IPL 2024: Netizens divided after Hardik Pandya replaces Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain

The main question netizens have is if Rohit Sharma was sacked or if he gave up his Mumbai Indians (MI) captaincy to Hardik Pandya.

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya

Following the prosperous trade of Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans (GT) to Mumbai Indians (MI), it became common knowledge that he was under consideration for the captaincy role. The Mumbai Indians franchise revealed the all-cash transaction related to the all-rounder, coinciding with a period of uncertainty surrounding Rohit Sharma's future in T20Is.

Despite his illustrious record, Mumbai Indians announced a significant leadership transition on December 15 for the upcoming 2024 season. Hardik Pandya is set to assume the captaincy, succeeding Rohit Sharma, who has been the franchise's longest-serving skipper.

At the age of 36, Rohit Sharma retained his status as the most decorated captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL), boasting five IPL trophies — a feat matched only by the legendary MS Dhoni.

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The shift in captaincy has sparked discussions among netizens, with some expressing no concerns about the change, while others are dissatisfied with the decision. The main question fans have is if Rohit Sharma was sacked or if he gave up his Mumbai Indians (MI) captaincy to Hardik Pandya.

Commenting on this transition Mahela Jayawardene, Global Head of Performance, Mumbai Indians said "It is part of legacy building and staying true to the MI philosophy of being future-ready. Mumbai Indians have always been blessed with exceptional leadership right from Sachin to Harbhajan and Ricky to Rohit, who while contributing to the immediate success have always had an eye on strengthening the team for the future. It is in keeping with this philosophy that Hardik Pandya will assume captaincy of Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2024 season.

"We express our gratitude to Rohit Sharma for his exceptional leadership; his tenure as the captain of the Mumbai Indians since 2013 has been nothing short of extraordinary. His leadership has not only brought unparalleled success to the team but has also solidified his place as one of the finest captains in the history of the IPL.

"Under his guidance, MI became one of the most successful and loved teams ever. We will look forward to his guidance and experience on and off the field to further strengthen MI. We welcome Hardik Pandya as the new captain of MI and wish him all the very best."

Ahead of the IPL mega auction in 2021, MI had let go of Pandya, and subsequently, he joined GT. During his time there, he not only led the team to a title win in his debut season but also steered them to the final earlier this year.

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