Mumbai Indians have once made a slow start to their Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) campaign, this time under new leadership in the form of Hardik Pandya. With Rohit Sharma being stripped of the captaincy role, fans have given Hardik a tough time which has been paralleled with the team’s poor form.
Rohit Sharma in the practice session at Mullanpur. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OCCSVXJFuH
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 18, 2024
Historically, Mumbai Indians have had a reputation for starting slowly in the IPL. They prioritize finishing strongly, and they have often done so in impressive fashion. There have been seasons where MI struggled in the initial league games but ultimately clinched the title. Their five IPL victories are a testament to their resilience and ability to excel under pressure.
“All these years, this has been the story of Mumbai Indians, where we start slow and then things start to change…,” Rohit said.
This year, their start has followed a similar pattern, with three consecutive losses followed by two wins before falling to Chennai Super Kings in their last match. They currently sit at No.9 in the IPL 2024 points table. However, overlooking one of the tournament’s strongest teams would be a mistake for most IPL fans.
Rohit Sharma Opens Up On Captaincy Change
This year, their comeback may face additional challenges. With Rohit Sharma, the architect of many of their turnarounds, no longer leading the team, MI appointed Hardik Pandya as their new captain ahead of the 17th season. This decision was met with criticism from many MI fans, evident in the reactions seen during matches, where Hardik faced boos and trolls, even at their home ground Wankhede.
When asked about MI’s trend of starting slowly and improving as the tournament progresses, Rohit Sharma, who led MI from 2013 to 2023, stated that he had been working with the support staff for the past decade to foster a winning culture. He emphasized his desire to shape the squad according to his vision, believing it to be crucial for success in the IPL.
“The captain for the last 10 years was stagnant. The coaches have changed but the captain has been the same. I went in with some sort of thought process… The new people who come in (to the squad), I wanted to get them to (follow) my thought process because I know how IPL works and what it takes to be a successful team. It takes time to take everyone on board and make them do something which they are not used to,” he added.
Also Read: IPL 2024: Rohit Sharma Set To Reach Historic Milestone Against Punjab Kings
