Hardik Pandya agreed to comeback to Mumbai Indians only as captain, Rohit Sharma was already informed: Reports

In a surprising turn of events, Hardik Pandya is poised to assume the role of captain for the Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL 2024 season. This unexpected development has sent ripples through the cricketing world, marking another intriguing chapter in the dynamic history of leadership within the Mumbai Indians franchise.

Reports suggest that Rohit Sharma, the current captain of the Mumbai Indians, was informed of this change at the onset of the World Cup. Allegedly, Pandya stipulated that if he were to rejoin the squad, he would take on the mantle of leadership. Sharma, reportedly in agreement with the plan, engaged in a series of discussions with the franchise during the World Cup, focusing on their long-term vision and the necessity for a change in leadership.

Mahela Jayawardene, the global head of performance for Mumbai Indians, elaborated on the decision in an official press release, emphasizing the franchise’s commitment to legacy building and future readiness.

“The decision to appoint Hardik Pandya as the captain for the IPL 2024 season aligns with Mumbai Indians’ philosophy of building a strong legacy and staying prepared for the future. Throughout its history, Mumbai Indians have been fortunate to have exceptional leaders, from Sachin to Harbhajan, Ricky to Rohit, who not only contributed to immediate success but also prioritized strengthening the team for the long term,” Jayawardene stated.

Expressing gratitude to Rohit Sharma for his outstanding leadership since 2013, Jayawardene acknowledged Sharma’s pivotal role in the team’s unprecedented success and hailed him as one of the finest captains in the history of the IPL.

This strategic move by Mumbai Indians evokes memories of 2013 when Rohit Sharma was appointed captain mid-season, successfully steering the team to its first IPL title. Since then, Sharma has solidified his reputation as one of the league’s premier captains.

Hardik Pandya, who previously captained the Gujarat Titans, returns to Mumbai, where his cricketing journey commenced in 2015. Reflecting on his journey, Pandya expressed his special connection to the city, stating, “The feeling of coming back to Mumbai is very special for a lot of reasons. How my cricketing journey started in 2015 with MI, them noticing me in 2013. When I look back, the whole span of 10 years has been something very special. It has not sunk in yet that I’m finally back where my whole cricketing journey started. I have achieved all the possible things,” as quoted by Indian Express.