The recent switch in Mumbai Indians captaincy, with Hardik Pandya taking over from Rohit Sharma for the IPL 2024 season, has sparked fervent discussions across cricketing circles. Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian cricketer, believes that evaluating this decision based on ‘rights and wrongs’ isn’t prudent, emphasizing that it’s a move aimed at the team’s advantage.
Reflecting on Rohit Sharma’s recent performances, Gavaskar noted a slight dip in his batting prowess over the last couple of years. Mumbai Indians’ finishes at No. 9 and No. 10 in previous seasons, followed by a playoff qualification, seemingly influenced the decision to appoint Hardik as captain, according to Gavaskar’s conversation on Star Sports.
Gavaskar speculated that continuous cricket commitments, coupled with leadership responsibilities at both national and franchise levels, might have affected Rohit Sharma’s form, leading to the decision for a new captain.
Highlighting Hardik Pandya’s successful leadership tenure with Gujarat Titans, leading them to two finals and securing the title in 2022, Gavaskar underscored the injection of fresh perspectives that Hardik’s captaincy might offer.
“Sometimes, fresh thinking is crucial. Hardik brings that to the table” Gavaskar stated, expressing confidence that this decision would only benefit the Mumbai Indians rather than impede their progress.
While both Rohit and Hardik have maintained silence publicly since the change in captaincy, prior reports suggested that the captaincy role was among Hardik’s stipulations upon joining the Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans.
