The off-season between the 2023 and 2024 editions was one of the most exciting in Indian Premier League (IPL) history, if not the most. Just as everyone was beginning to recover from the entire Pandya-Green trade debacle involving three organizations following the squad retention deadline, the Mumbai Indians (MI) made a bombshell statement.
Hardik Pandya has been selected as the franchise’s new captain, essentially ending Rohit Sharma’s decade-long reign. The Hitman was one of the most successful leaders in the competition’s history.
When MI named him captain in the middle of the 2023 season, they didn’t have a single championship to their name. With Rohit Sharma’s departure, the club now has five titles, a record shared with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
The franchise has suffered greatly in terms of its social media following and other areas, and the fans have not at all accepted the decision well. Let’s look at some professional responses to Rohit Sharma’s dismissal as captain in light of this.
1. Aakash Chopra
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra read the proceedings differently, focusing on Sharma’s accomplishments over the past decade rather than the chain of events.
“Rohit Sharma was one of the finest captains – 10 years, five trophies. A very successful captain. He understands the pulse of the game and managed the team really well. He always kept team ahead of self. Whether it was opening for the side or batting down the order, he did everything for Mumbai Indians that was asked of him.”
“The biggest parameter [to judge a captain is], the players who have played under you, do they want to keep playing more under you. That defines you as a captain and a player. Whoever has played under Rohit has said that he is a very good captain; I want to play under him. He gives me my space. It’s an end of an era. He is one of the modern greats.”
Aakash Chopra
The franchise’s social media following and other metrics have suffered greatly as a result of the move, which the fans have not received well at all. Having said that, let’s examine some professional responses to Rohit Sharma’s dismissal from the team.
2. Wasim Jaffer
The former India opener was taken aback by MI’s decision to select Pandya as captain immediately following the move. Everyone anticipated this day to arrive once the all-rounder announced his return, but it was thought that Rohit Sharma would lead the squad for a time before departing on his own terms.
“I’m surprised that MI have moved on from Rohit Sharma so early. It happened so quickly, I’m also a little surprised. When they did the trade, it was probably communicated to Hardik that he is going to come in as the captain. But whether it was communicated to Rohit, I don’t know.”
Wasim Jaffer
Jaffer also mentioned that losing the captaincy may be a gift in disguise, lifting a burden off his shoulders.
“In a sense, it can be a little bit of a relief that you are not in that job. It’s little easier, you just focus on your batting. Knowing Rohit, sometimes the stress of captaining in the IPL has got to him. He has had a very lean couple of seasons. He would have wanted the leadership to be taken away from him, so that he can focus on his batting.”
Wasim Jaffer
Rohit Sharma’s IPL form has been up and down over the previous several seasons. A dominating season as a batsman up the order may be the perfect statement just before the T20 World Cup in 2024.
3. Irfan Pathan
The former India all-rounder turned to Twitter to express his displeasure with MI’s decision to dismiss Rohit Sharma as captain of their team.
“Kitne bhi saal ki purani ye franchise kyon na ho jaae sabse upar naam Rohit Sharma ka rahega. (No matter how old the franchise is, Rohit Sharma’s name will always be on top.).”
Irfan Pathan
The supporters’ reactions demonstrate how much Rohit Sharma meant to them. As Pathan stated, regardless of what the franchise does in the future, Rohit Sharma’s name will remain at the absolute top of MI mythology.
4. Mahela Jayawardene
When the leadership baton was handed from Sharma to Pandya, the Mumbai Indians’ Global Head of Performance, Mahela Jayawardene, had the difficult responsibility of serving as a mediator. He sent a few words to thank the veteran for his outstanding service as captain since 2013.
“We express our gratitude to Rohit Sharma for his exceptional leadership; his tenure as the captain of the Mumbai Indians since 2013 has been nothing short of extraordinary. His leadership has not only brought unparalleled success to the team but has also solidified his place as one of the finest captains in the history of the IPL. Under his guidance, MI became one of the most successful and loved teams ever. We will look forward to his guidance and experience on and off the field to further strengthen MI.”
Mahela Jayawardene
Jayawardene and the skipper had developed a strong partnership. Together they envisioned and built one of the most powerful T20 teams in history. This mighty squad captured back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2020.
5. Harsha Bhogle
The hiring of Hardik Pandya was described as a ‘open secret’ by the popular broadcaster. According to reports, all of the formalities were worked out well ahead of the competition, with the all-rounder stating that he wants to captain the side after being traded from the Gujarat Titans (GT).
“That Hardik Pandya would be captain of @mipaltan was an open secret. Rohit Sharma can lay claim to being, with MS Dhoni, the finest leader in the #IPL. It may not be a bad idea to let him relax and have fun because the IPL can take a lot out of you and he will have led India in 5 tests a little before that. While this is a move keeping in mind the next few years, it will be a huge challenge for Hardik given the number of stars in the side and the ambition of the franchise. It makes #MumbaiIndians the team to watch this year.”
Harsha Bhogle