The decision by the Mumbai Indians (MI) to appoint Hardik Pandya as their captain, replacing the iconic Rohit Sharma, has sparked discontent among many loyal fans. Expressing their disappointment, numerous followers swiftly unfollowed MI’s Instagram account, resulting in a significant dip in the franchise’s online presence. Within 24 hours of the captaincy change announcement, MI witnessed a loss of over 5 lakh followers, reducing their Instagram fan base to 12.6 million at the time of this report.
The captaincy shift came after Hardik Pandya rejoined the franchise last month, following a high-profile trade from the Gujarat Titans, a team he led in the previous two seasons.
In an official statement, Mumbai Indians clarified that the change in leadership was a strategic move aligned with their future planning, expressing gratitude to Rohit Sharma for his exemplary service to the franchise.
Mumbai Indians, alongside Chennai Super Kings, holds the record for being the most successful IPL franchise, with both teams securing five titles each. Rohit Sharma, who led MI since 2013, played a pivotal role in the team’s victories in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Despite reaching the play-offs in IPL 2023, the franchise decided to undergo a change in leadership.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya had been a key contributor to Mumbai Indians’ success from 2015 to 2021 before departing to captain the Gujarat Titans. Under his leadership, the Titans clinched the IPL title in 2022 and finished as runners-up earlier this year.
This significant development has raised questions about Rohit Sharma’s future in the shortest format. While another ODI World Cup appearance seems unlikely, the 36-year-old cricketer might return to lead India in the T20 World Cup in six months’ time. The absence of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from India’s T20 lineup since the World Cup semifinal exit in Australia last year adds intrigue to the team’s dynamics.
(With PTI Inputs)