A new beginning or beginning of an end? Mumbai Indians fans would find it difficult to move on from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya. The franchise has confirmed a captaincy transition ahead of IPL 2024 with Hardik marking an end to Rohit’s 10-year reign that brought in five IPL titles. But why now? With IPL 2025 mega auction next year, could not MI continue with Rohit for one more season before pulling the plug? And that brings to the question, was Rohit Sharma sacked?
Unlike some other franchises, Mumbai Indians believe in backing. They never let go of their own. And for someone like Rohit Sharma, even though the writings were there on the wall, he was and will remain one of the most successful captains of IPL, even ahead of MS Dhoni in terms of winning percentage.
No more blinded by glory
However, despite the accolades and fans Rohit has brought to Mumbai, the last three years have been average. While many can question Mumbai Indians’ poor auction planning and injuries to star players, one would have to look at Rohit Sharma’s records in those years as well.
Rohit Sharma stats in last five seasons
| YEAR | MAT | RUNS | HS | AVG | SR | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16 | 332 | 65 | 20.75 | 132.80 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 | 14 | 268 | 48 | 19.14 | 120.18 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 13 | 381 | 63 | 29.30 | 127.42 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 12 | 332 | 80 | 27.66 | 127.69 | 0 | 3 |
| 2019 | 15 | 405 | 67 | 28.92 | 128.57 | 0 | 2 |
It was clear that something was missing and change in coaching staff wasn’t the only thing MI needed. They needed fresh ideas and aggression. And Rohit Sharma having given everything to the team, did not fit in anymore. Hence, to say, Rohit Sharma was sacked would not be wrong. But the captaincy change won’t be dramatic. Mumbai owe it to Rohit for transforming a rich franchise to a team that can be invincible.
Sooner the better
The decision to hand over the captaincy reins to Hardik Pandya has met with mixed reactions. However, a closer look reveals that this decision is not a mere sacking but a thoughtful strategy by the franchise to ensure a smooth transition.
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Rohit Sharma, at the age of 36, has already achieved immense success both as a captain and as a player. However, it is only practical to acknowledge that age is a factor. The move to appoint Hardik Pandya as the captain can be seen as a forward-thinking decision aimed at building a team for the future.
One of the primary reasons for the decision to transition to a new captain is the need for continuity within the team.
Rohit Sharma, with his wealth of experience, will undoubtedly continue to play a pivotal role in the team as a senior player and mentor. But ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction, Mumbai needed a new leader to guide them in the next three years. And it’s their poster boy Hardik Pandya who will do the job, begin rebuilding from now on.
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