Suryakumar Yadav has finally addressed the speculation surrounding his potential replacement of Hardik Pandya as the captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Will Suryakumar Yadav become Mumbai Indians captain?
Both Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya are considered top-tier players in the Indian T20I squad. While India's explosive batter consistently dominates opposing teams with his batting prowess, Hardik Pandya contributes significantly to the team's success with both his batting and bowling abilities, often delivering game-changing moments.
After Rohit Sharma's retirement from the T20I format following India's victory in the T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya was seen as a strong contender to take over the captaincy. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team management surprised many by appointing Suryakumar as the new captain, despite Pandya being Rohit Sharma's full-time deputy.
MI made a surprising move ahead of the IPL 2024, dismissing their 5-time IPL-winning captain Rohit Sharma and appointing Hardik Pandya as his successor. Pandya, who had established himself as a key player for MI, was acquired from the Gujarat Titans through a trade deal. MI aimed to capture their 6th IPL title with the leadership change, hoping to overcome their disappointing three-year performance in the tournament.
However, the decision to sack Rohit Sharma was met with significant criticism from fans and experts alike, who expressed their disapproval of both the franchise and Pandya. The star all-rounder faced immense pressure as he was booed by spectators in almost every match. The Mumbai Indians struggled under Pandya's leadership, finishing at the bottom of the IPL 2024 table with only 4 wins in 14 matches.
Recently, social media was abuzz with rumors suggesting that Suryakumar might be appointed as the new captain of the Mumbai Indians. During a pre-match press conference in Gwalior, the India T20I captain was directly questioned about his aspirations for IPL captaincy. Suryakumar responded to the query with a touch of humor, stating that the reporter had bowled him a googly.
Let's see what's in store for the future: Suryakumar
He went on to express his enjoyment of his current role as captain and revealed that he had been actively involved in offering suggestions and advice to Rohit during his time with the Mumbai Indians. Suryakumar added that while he is uncertain about his future, any announcement regarding him becoming the captain of an IPL team would be made if such an opportunity arises.
"Aapne googly daal diya (laughs). Really enjoying this new role. When I was playing under Rohit bhai’s captaincy in MI, I used to give my inputs whatever I felt at that time. Baaki dekhte hain (laughs). Let's see what's in store for the future. You will get to know in due course of time," he said.
