With the change in captaincy of Mumbai Indians taking centre stage ahead of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, Hardik Pandya has been getting a lot of attention after Rohit Sharma was stripped off the captaincy after the ODI World Cup 2023.
Question – have you had a word with Rohit Sharma since becoming MI captain?
Hardik Pandya – Yes and a No as well. He has been travelling non-stop. pic.twitter.com/8tyu4QQcUW
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 18, 2024
Mumbai Indians’ recently appointed skipper, Hardik Pandya, expressed his anticipation for collaborating closely with Rohit Sharma in the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, highlighting that leading the Indian captain for the first time in his career wouldn’t feel awkward.
“First of all, it won’t be any different because he is going to be there to help me out, if I need any help. At the same time, he is the captain of the Indian team, which helps me because this team, what he has achieved under his captaincy, from now onwards, I want to carry forward what he has achieved,” Hardik Pandya said.
“It won’t be awkward or anything different. It will be a nice experience. I have played all my career under his captaincy. I know he is going to have a hand on my shoulder always, throughout the season,” he added.
Pandya revealed that he hasn’t yet engaged in detailed discussions about the upcoming season with Sharma but intends to do so during their training sessions. Confirming Mumbai Indians’ commencement of their first practice match ahead of the IPL 2024 season on Monday, March 18, Pandya reiterated his readiness for the leadership role.
In a surprising turn of events, Mumbai Indians stunned the cricket world by naming Hardik Pandya as their captain for IPL 2024 following his trade from Gujarat Titans. While the unprecedented trade deal itself caused a stir, Pandya’s assumption of the captaincy from Rohit Sharma stirred mixed reactions among Mumbai Indians fans.
Criticism From Some MI Fans
Notably, a considerable segment of supporters expressed disappointment at Rohit Sharma’s captaincy loss, resulting in a decline in the social media following of the five-time champions subsequent to the announcement. Despite the division among fans, Pandya’s leadership tenure marks a significant shift in the team’s dynamics, with hopes pinned on his ability to guide the side to success in the upcoming season.
“Backlash bit. To be very honest, we respect fans. At the same time, we focus on sport. I control the controllables. I don’t focus on what I can’t control. At the same time, I am very grateful to fans. They have every right to say what they say. I respect their opinion. At the same time, we will focus on doing well,” Hardik said.
Also Read: IPL 2024: CSK vs RCB Tickets Not Available? Fans Left Disappointed
