Tensions were flaring in the Mumbai Indians (MI) camp in the IPL 2024 season. After Rohit Sharma was replaced as captain by Hardik Pandya, the fans and allegedly some players were unhappy with the franchise’s decision. Hardik was booed everywhere he went, and although Rohit never said anything, he looked a little bit distant. The unharmony inside MI resulted in them finishing the season 10th on the points table.
With the T20 World Cup 2024 coming up in two weeks, people feared that the India cricket team would suffer as the captain and vice-captain didn’t see eye to eye. According to Vimal Kumar, an independent journalist, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya didn’t warm-up early on but came together for the team. They themselves initiated it, but head coach Rahul Dravid and former skipper Virat Kohli played a big role as well.
Rohit Sharma & Hardik Pandya rise above
“When I went to the nets, I noticed what was going on between Hardik and Rohit. On the first day, they didn’t speak and were away from each other. But by the second day, I saw them come over, one after the other, and sit together in a corner, talking for a long time. That moment for me defined this team. There was no camera there; nothing. There is so much going on in India with the public talking about their differences. After that, for the next three days, Rohit and Hardik would bat parallelly. And then Rohit would point out about his batting and bowling. When I saw that atmosphere and thought if they addressed such a complex issue, the elephant in the room. That vibe I saw demonstrated how relaxed the team atmosphere was,” Vimal Kumar said on 2 Sloggers’ podcast.
“The full credit goes to Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma for this. The way he handled the big guys – Virat, Hardik, Rohit – I think Rahul Dravid has a lot to do with it. Everyone gelled together. That was the leadership I had confidence in,” Vimal further added.
