Former Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Rohit Sharma has begun his preparations for the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).
A Monday on March 18 saw Rohit becoming a part of Mumbai’s camp. Without wasting time, he moved to nets and started practicing. The right-hander’s previous appearance was the 5-match Test series against England where India achieved a 4-1 victory.
Rohit Sharma, who was replaced as MI captain by Hardik Pandya, appeared to be in sync in a 30-second video published by the franchise on various social media channels. He played a few magnificent cover drives, came down the course a few times, and used his favorite pool shot a couple of times.
Watch the clip here:
Rohit Sharma, freed from captaincy duties, aims to bat with abandon. He’ll spearhead Mumbai’s batting assault. The 35-year-old endured subpar IPL seasons recently. But now, he’s poised to unleash his prowess.
Last year, he scored only 332 runs in 16 games, averaging 20.75. Rohit’s average fell below 20 in IPL 2022, as he scored only 268 runs in 14 matches.
The accomplished batter appeared composed against England. He scored abundantly, with two centuries and a fifty. He will seek to mirror this form in IPL 2024. After, he focuses on the T20 World Cup. This marquee event spans across USA and West Indies.
“I know he will always have his hand on my shoulder” – Hardik Pandya on replacing Rohit Sharma as MI skipper
After leading the Gujarat Titans for two years, Hardik Pandya was moved back to the Mumbai Indians, where he began his IPL career. Following his tremendous performance as a leader, the all-rounder was given the leadership reins this year.
When asked about the leadership swap, Hardik Pandya claimed that there would be no tension between him and Rohit. The new MI skipper said that he expects Rohit to assist him when he is in need.
“Rohit Sharma is Captain of Team India which helps me, what this team has achieved, was achieved under his leadership and I just carry forward. I played my whole career under him and I know he will always have his hand on my shoulder,” Rohit told reporters.
Hardik Pandya
On Sunday, March 24, the Mumbai Indians will face last year’s runner-up Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad in the IPL 2024 opener.
