Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya hugged former captain Rohit Sharma as they reunited on the field during a training session on Wednesday, March 20.
Eleven seasons led the team – from 2013 till 2023 – Rohit Sharma replaced at helm. Hardik Pandya joined Mumbai Indians in 2015, twenty-one-year-old youngster. All-rounder now captains, replacing Rohit at team’s leadership role.
Pandya completed seven seasons with Mumbai under Rohit Sharma’s leadership before joining the Gujarat Titans for the 2022 IPL. The Men in Blue, who had only reached one final before season six, won a record five IPL titles in just eight seasons under Rohit Sharma’s leadership.
Here’s a wholesome video of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya released on the franchise’s official social media account:
MI has only made the playoffs in one of the past three IPL seasons. Mumbai lost by 62 runs against the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans in the second qualifier of the 2023 IPL season, missing out on another final appearance.
Mumbai Indians to Meet Gujarat Titans in First Match of IPL 2024
Meanwhile, the seventeenth season of the IPL is due to begin on Friday, March 22, with the reigning champion Chennai Super Kings facing three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the MA Chidambaram stadium.
On Sunday (March 24), the Mumbai Indians will kick off their 2024 IPL season with a big match against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Hardik Pandya lead the Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in their maiden season in the league, and they finished second last year after losing the rain-soaked final to the Chennai Super Kings via DLS.
