Reacting to the surprising news of Hardik Pandya succeeding Rohit Sharma as the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) for the upcoming season of Indian Premier League (IPL), former India's star all-rounder Irfan Pathan hailed Hitman's service as Paltans' captain. He emphasised that Rohit's legacy with the franchise is unparalleled, and regardless of the team's future, Rohit's name will always be held in the highest regard.
Follow the Sports Tak channel on WhatsApp
This unexpected announcement marked the end of Rohit Sharma's significant ten-year tenure as MI's captain. Under Rohit's captaincy MI not only flourished but also underwent a remarkable transformation. In his 11 seasons as captain, Rohit led the team to five IPL titles, making them the most successful franchise in the history of the cash-rich league alongside Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Rohit's journey as captain began in 2013 when he took over the reins from Ricky Ponting. He made an immediate impact, winning the IPL title in his very first season as captain. His leadership skills shone through as he guided MI to further title triumphs in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020, securing the most titles in IPL history for the team.
The announcement from Mumbai Indians evoked emotional responses from fans and cricket personalities alike, who took the opportunity to laud Rohit for his exceptional achievements. Irfan Pathan also joined the chorus as he took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and wrote, "Kitne bhi saal ki purani ye franchise kyon na ho jaae sabse upar naam Rohit Sharma ka rahega,” Irfan Pathan wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Hardik recently made his move back to Mumbai Indians through a trade from Gujarat Titans (GT). He previously led GT to a title triumph in IPL 2022 and to a second-place finish in 2023.
Meanwhile, Mahela Jayawardene, MI's Global Head of Performance in a statement said,“We express our gratitude to Rohit Sharma for his exceptional leadership; his tenure as the captain of the Mumbai Indians since 2013 has been nothing short of extraordinary. His leadership has not only brought unparalleled success to the team but has also solidified his place as one of the finest captains in the history of the IPL. Under his guidance, MI became one of the most successful and loved teams ever. We will look forward to his guidance and experience on and off the field to further strengthen MI.”
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
MS Dhoni's iconic No. 7 jersey retired as BCCI pays ultimate tribute to India's 'greatest captain'
Should Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli feature in 2024 T20 World Cup? Harbhajan Singh answers million-dollar question
