With Hardik Pandya beginning his new role as Mumbai Indians captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL) against his former side Gujarat Titans, discussions including Rohit Sharma and Hardik have been doing the rounds on the internet with both players experiencing a shift in roles.
“Preparation is 🔑”
📹 Hear from Ro ahead of #GTvMI 💪#MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians | @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/aumxOpBdhQ
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 24, 2024
While it may take some time to assess the effectiveness of this new leadership structure for the five-time champions, middle-order batter Tilak Varma noted that not much has changed for him since Hardik assumed the role. Tilak, a left-handed batter, emphasized that both Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma remain accessible to other players in the team, providing support and guidance when needed.
Tilak On Rohit’s Role In The Team
During a press conference preceding MI’s opening match against the Gujarat Titans, Tilak fielded numerous questions about the captaincy change within the team. However, he only had positive remarks about Hardik’s leadership qualities.
“Rohit has been there for us and Hardik bhai has also been there for us. It’s been the same, just following the basics. Stategy-wise, everything going well. It’s the same thing, nothing new,” said Varma.
Tilak also mentioned that he made his debut for India under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya and is now heading into the IPL 2024 season with Hardik as the captain. While Hardik holds the official captaincy position, Tilak highlighted that Rohit Sharma continues to offer his expertise and assistance to both the captain and other team members whenever required.
“I debuted under him (Hardik) when I played for India, so it’s going well. Hardik is the captain, and Rohit is always there for Hardik and the team. We gel well together as a team,” he added.
Additionally, Tilak discussed his role within the team, acknowledging that with his debut for India, he now carries a greater responsibility on his shoulders.
“Last year was a good season, but now, as a senior player and having played for India, I have a slightly bigger responsibility to play mature innings. As I have said previously, I always want to finish games, and I have good knowledge and experience of it when playing for India, so I am looking forward to using it now,” he said.
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