Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar feels fans should support the replacement of Rohit Sharma by Hardik Pandya as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain and not think it emotionally. Based on cricketing logic, Manjrekar believes the move was a sensible one from the franchise as well. However, Hardik returned to his first franchise, Mumbai Indians (MI), in a trade from Gujarat Titans (GT), and was named the side’s captain for the upcoming IPL season as well.
Speaking to Star Sports after the opening ODI of the India-South Africa series, Manjrekar said, “One should not be thinking sentimentally or emotionally about Rohit Sharma. I think it’s a good move as Hardik Pandya is a proven leader and has had a great run. So, he is your in-form T20 captain and player. Rohit has been around for a long time. So, it makes a lot of cricketing sense to have somebody like Hardik. I just hope he doesn’t feel the pressure of how the transfer happened and Mumbai Indians backing him so much.”
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However, Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians to five titles between 2013 and 2020, with Hardik Pandya being a key player in the last four as well. Meanwhile, Hardik has tasted success himself, leading Gujarat Titans to a title in their maiden season in 2022 and losing in the final this year as well.
On the other hand, another former Indian batter, Wasim Jaffer, had different views on this. He was surprised that MI moved on from Rohit Sharma as their captain as well. Reports have also surfaced that Rohit was informed of Hardik returning and becoming the new captain as well.
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“I’m surprised that MI has moved from Rohit Sharma so early. It happened so quickly, I’m also a little surprised. There were a couple of guys who were pretty hopeful of becoming the captain. One of them is Suryakumar Yadav, who is captaining the Indian team.”He has captained really well. Jasprit Bumrah as well, he captained India in Tests. I hope it has been communicated really well. It was going to happen, but it happening straightaway this season, I am a little surprised,” Jaffer told ESPNCricinfo.
