Mumbai Indians (MI) have had a season to forget in IPL 2024. They were the first team knocked out of playoff contention last week, managing just four wins in their 13 matches so far. MI's final match against Lucknow Super Giants on Friday, May 17 will cap off a campaign riddled with both on-field struggles and off-field controversies. One of the biggest controversies surrounded the appointment of Hardik Pandya as captain. This decision reportedly caused significant unrest within the franchise, and MI fans at the Wankhede Stadium expressed their displeasure by booing Hardik during the initial games. Hardik's own batting form didn't help matters, as he failed to score a single fifty throughout the season, with his highest score being a mere 46. He only managed to cross the 200-run mark in his 13th and final match.
Former captain Rohit Sharma, who led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles, also had a disappointing season. While he did manage a century, his overall run tally remained low at 346 in 13 matches. Adding fuel to the fire, a video went viral before their previous match against Kolkata Knight Riders. The video seemingly showed Rohit expressing frustration with the MI management during a conversation with KKR's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. However, soon the video was taken off from social media by KKR.
Anil Kumble hints at Rohit Sharma's departure from MI
With the IPL season nearing its end, legendary Indian bowler and former Test captain Anil Kumble weighed in on the future of star Mumbai Indians players like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav. With a mega auction looming for the next season, Kumble suggested that these key players might consider leaving the Mumbai Indians franchise.
“Let's be fair. I'm sure there'd be a conversation, which is not going to be easy. Ideally, that conversation needs to happen after the World Cup. You don't know whether Rohit will remain with MI; I'm sure he would want to go out. Teams will look for captains too. Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav are leadership materials, too. Bumrah has captained India. Even if the franchises want to keep them, the ball remains with the players. It all depends on how they are going to go about,” Kumble told JioCinema ahead of MI's match against LSG.
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While Mumbai Indians endure a forgettable season, some of their players have shone individually. Jasprit Bumrah, the team's most consistent performer, has been their leading wicket-taker. Suryakumar Yadav, despite missing initial games due to injury, has made a strong comeback with several impactful performances. However, the captaincy situation for both Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya becomes an interesting talking point. While their future with MI might hinge on the upcoming mega auction, their immediate focus shifts to the T20 World Cup where their roles will be reversed. Rohit takes the captain's reins for India, while Hardik Pandya serves as his deputy.
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