In a shocking turn of events, Mumbai Indians announced Hardik Pandya as their new skipper, marking the end of Rohit’s successful 10-year tenure as MI captain. While many fans called franchise’s move as ‘betrayal’, it has been reported that Rohit Sharma was aware about the decision since the start of the World Cup.
During the player trading window, Hardik Pandya’s return to Mumbai Indians took the centre stage. According to Indian Express, Pandya’s move had a condition—he desired to be the franchise captain. After discussions, the franchise agreed to Pandya’s request, and they informed Sharma during the World Cup.
Aware of the franchise’s plans at the beginning of the World Cup, Rohit Sharma understood the need for a captaincy change. In meetings, he actively supported the plan to play under Pandya for the upcoming season.
Rohit Sharma’s stellar tenure as MI captain
Reflecting back on 2013, when Mumbai Indians were struggling under Ricky Ponting’s captaincy, they turned to Rohit Sharma. This decision not only revived the team’s fortunes but also led to their first league title. Later, Rohit actively led the team to four more titles. In 163 matches as captain, Rohit actively secured victory 91 times, faced defeat 68 times, and had four tied matches.
