It has been two months since Mumbai Indians appointed Hardik Pandya as the new captain ahead of IPL 2024, replacing most successful captain Rohit Sharma. Yet, even after 63 days, the new captain, who made his MI debut under Rohit Sharma, is yet to speak to his predecessor. Hardik confirmed that he will speak to Rohit when he joins MI camp on Monday.
“He has been travelling. So, we haven’t seen each other yet or have had a chance to speak. I will speak to Rohit when he joins the camp,” Hardik Pandya said at the MI Press Conference on Monday.
Hardik Pandya seeks Rohit Sharma’s backing
While it will be his ideas on the pitch, Hardik Pandya wants to have Rohit Sharma by his side. Hardik will have to play under Rohit in India Cricket Team in T20 World Cup 2024.
“It wont be any different, Rohit Sharma will be able to help me anytime. It won’t be awkward, I know he is always going to have a hand on my shoulders,” Hardik Pandya said.
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The backlash
While the Mumbai Indians fans celebrated Hardik’s homecoming from Gujarat Titans, they were not so kind when MI appointed him the skipper.
MI faced fans’ backlash as Rohit Sharma was axed as the captain despite delivering five IPL titles. Fans took to social media to call for boycott of MI matches and lashed out at both MI and Hardik Pandya. However, Hardik remains unscathed.
“About the backlash after the captaincy change, I respect the fans’ emotions. But I can only control the controllable. I can only focus on my sport, that is what I am going to do,” Hardik Pandya said.
