The Mumbai Indians (MI), one of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), faced a significant setback on social media following their announcement of Hardik Pandya as the new team captain for the IPL 2024 season. Within an hour of this announcement on December 15, the franchise experienced a loss of around 400,000 followers on Twitter, indicating a strong reaction from their fanbase.
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Hardik Pandya, who previously played for MI, is set to return and lead the team, succeeding Rohit Sharma. Sharma, a legendary figure in IPL history, led MI since 2013 and steered the team to five IPL victories, a record he shares with Mahendra Singh Dhoni as of IPL 2023. Sharma's last stint in T20 Internationals was at the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against India.
This leadership transition comes as Sharma, the Indian national team captain, prepares to rejoin cricket following a hiatus after India's narrow defeat in the 2023 World Cup final. His return is scheduled for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, starting on December 26.
Hardik Pandya's return to Mumbai Indians marks a significant shift for both him and the franchise. Pandya previously made his mark in the IPL with MI before spending two seasons as the captain of the Gujarat Titans. Under his leadership, the Titans clinched the IPL title in their inaugural season (2022) by defeating the Rajasthan Royals in the final. Pandya's performance in the final was noteworthy, contributing both with the bat and ball, earning him the player of the match title. His tenure with the Titans in 2023 was also commendable, leading them to the final where they narrowly lost to MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings in a dramatic last-ball finish.
This captaincy change for Mumbai Indians is a pivotal moment for the franchise, as they look forward to a new era under Hardik Pandya's leadership, hoping to add more glory to their already illustrious IPL history.
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