The Wankhede Stadium, usually a hub of exuberant cricket fans, was uncharacteristically quiet as the Mumbai Indians (MI) experienced one of their most dismal seasons in IPL history. The five-time champions, once a dominant force in the league, found themselves languishing at the bottom of the table with just four wins out of 14 matches under their new skipper, Hardik Pandya.
This disappointing campaign left not only the fans but also the MI owners profoundly disheartened. Following the final league game, which resulted in a loss against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday, a visibly upset Nita Ambani addressed the team in the dressing room. Her words were firm and reflective of the team’s disastrous run this season.
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“It’s been a disappointing season for all of us. Things didn’t go the way we wanted them to, but I’m still a huge Mumbai Indians fan, not just an owner. Wearing the Mumbai Indians jersey is a huge honor and privilege, and being associated with Mumbai Indians is, for me, an honor and a privilege. I think we will go back, review, and reflect on what went wrong,” Nita Ambani said in a video posted on Mumbai Indians’ social media handle.
Mrs. Nita Ambani talks to the team about the IPL season and wishes our boys all the very best for the upcoming T20 World Cup 🙌#MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians | @ImRo45 | @hardikpandya7 | @surya_14kumar | @Jaspritbumrah93 pic.twitter.com/uCV2mzNVOw
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 19, 2024
The season saw MI make the tough decision to remove Rohit Sharma from the captaincy after a nine-year tenure. This move was intended to allow Rohit to play with more freedom, unburdened by leadership responsibilities. Hardik Pandya, who had led the Gujarat Titans to their inaugural title in 2022, was appointed as MI’s new captain. However, Pandya’s captaincy faced growing criticism as MI’s losses piled up.
Nita Ambani emphasized the honour of wearing the MI jersey and extended her best wishes to the Indian contingent for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, to be held in the West Indies and the USA. “To Rohit, Hardik, Surya (Suryakumar Yadav), and (Jasprit) Bumrah, all Indians are cheering for you. We wish you all the best,” she added.
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Her message subtly hinted at potential restructuring within the team. With a mega auction looming in 2025, significant changes are likely. Rohit’s future with the franchise appears uncertain, and Hardik’s role as captain is also under scrutiny. The MI think-tank faces tough decisions as they plan for the next season, aiming to reclaim their former glory.
