The 17th of May, 2024, could be a night etched in Mumbai Indians (MI) folklore, not for a thrilling IPL match versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), but for a potential farewell. Rohit Sharma, the man synonymous with MI’s five IPL titles, might be playing his last game in the iconic blue jersey.
Was the writing on the wall for Rohit?
While there’s no official confirmation, whispers of a potential split between Rohit and MI have been swirling for months. The decision to hand over captaincy duties to Hardik Pandya before IPL 2024 was the first major sign of a shift. It seemed like that the leadership role was scrapped off Rohit after failing to take MI closer to a title since 2020.
More on Rohit
This was followed by a cryptic conversation caught on camera between Rohit and KKR assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, sparking speculation about a possible exit from MI. In the video, Rohit was heard telling Nayar that every single thing seems to be changing at MI. He further went on to say that it will be his last (potentially a last IPL season with MI).
Rohit ‘The captain’ – A famed legacy for MI!
Rohit Sharma’s association with MI stretches back to 2011. The MI franchise picked up Rohit at the 2011 auctions for a whopping amount of INR 9.20 crore. Under his captaincy, MI emerged as a dominant force in the IPL. The franchise cliched a record-breaking five titles – in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. His aggressive batting style and astute leadership earned him the moniker “Hitman,” a name synonymous with MI’s success.