Kieron Pollard, the former West Indies captain and current batting coach for Mumbai Indians (MI), recently stirred up social media with an enigmatic Instagram post about 'loyalty'. This post sparked widespread speculation among fans, many of whom linked it to the recent developments within the MI Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise.
"Once the rain is over, an umbrella becomes a burden to everyone. That's how loyalty ends when benefits stop," Pollard's post read.
In a surprising turn of events ahead of IPL 2024, the trading window saw some unexpected changes, including a significant one involving Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Hardik Pandya. In a notable all-cash transaction, Pandya rejoined MI, his original team, while Cameron Green was traded to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). This move marked Pandya's return to MI, a team with which he had previously parted ways under controversial circumstances in 2022.
The intrigue deepened when Pandya was named as the new captain of MI, taking over the reins from Rohit, the incumbent national team captain. This decision sparked a mixed reaction among fans and observers. While some criticised the move as unfair to Rohit, others questioned the rationale behind promoting Pandya, particularly over other senior international players like Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah.
The debate intensified on social media, with numerous accounts discussing the implications of Rohit's removal as the captain of MI. Many fans expressed the view that Rohit, having led the team to five IPL titles, deserved the autonomy to choose the timing of his departure from the captaincy role.
Pollard's cryptic message about loyalty added fuel to the ongoing discussion, with fans and followers speculating whether it was linked to the recent captaincy change in the MI camp.
The post, while not explicitly mentioning any names or incidents, seemed to resonate with the sentiments of those questioning the recent decisions of the franchise, highlighting the intense emotions and loyalties that IPL cricket evokes among its vast fanbase.
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