In a major shake-up ahead of the 2024 Indian Premier League season, the Mumbai Indians, a powerhouse in the league, have unveiled a key leadership transition. The franchise has appointed the talented all-rounder Hardik Pandya as their new captain, succeeding Rohit Sharma, who has led the team for a decade. This announcement, made on December 15, has sparked considerable reaction among the cricketing community.
Hardik's appointment follows his transfer from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians, a strategic move finalized before the November retention deadline.
After the much-debated decision, there have been rumours surrounding Rohit's possible trade to another franchise with Hardik being appointed as the skipper of the Mumbai-based franchise.
Speaking to Cricbuzz on the sidelines of the IPL 2024 Auction, Mumbai Indians' official quashed all such rumours and affirmed that the 'Hitman' will continue to represent the franchise.
"Rohit is not going anywhere, nor will any player," the official said.
"The news reports are totally fake and false. No MI player will be leaving us, nor will be traded by us," the official added.
Rohit, who has been absent from T20 Internationals for India since the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final, will no longer lead his IPL franchise from 2024. Following India's loss in the 2023 World Cup final, Rohit took a break from cricket. He is scheduled to return to international cricket in the upcoming Test series against South Africa starting on December 26.
Hardik Pandya's leadership skills were prominently displayed during his tenure with Gujarat Titans. In their debut season in 2022, Pandya led the team to an IPL title, defeating Rajasthan Royals in the final, where he was also named the player of the match. In 2023, Pandya continued his impressive captaincy, guiding Gujarat Titans to the finals, where they faced a narrow defeat against MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling last-ball finish.
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