Mumbai Indians (MI), the five-time IPL champions, had a very turbulent preseason before their next season as they appointed Hardik Pandya as captain in lieu of Rohit Sharma. Notably, Pandya was added to MI’s roster and given captaincy duties via a player exchange with the Gujarat Titans.
During the pre-season press conference, Pandya recently answered questions from the media. One question concerned if his relationship with MS Dhoni would alter in any way as he was named captain. The MI captain answered the question in a touching way, stating that he (Rohit) will be there to support him and that he will strive to continue his legacy.
“First of all, there won’t be any changes since he will always be around to support me when I need it. He is the captain of the Indian team, which helps me because all this team has accomplished has been accomplished under his leadership, Pandya said during the MI pre-game press conference.
Speaking about the matter in more detail, Hardik Pandya added that Rohit will have his hand on his shoulder the entire season and that there won’t be any difficult situations.
“From this point on, I will only be carrying on what he has already accomplished. Thus, I don’t anticipate anything unusual or uncomfortable. Having played for 10 years, it will be a pleasant feeling. I know he will always be watching over me during the season because I have played under him my entire career,” he continued.
🗣️ “Rohit will have his hand on my shoulder throughout the season.” – Hardik Pandya 🥹💙#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/P0U9HvWWeI
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 18, 2024
From 2015 until 2021, Hardik Pandya was a player for MI.
Notably, Pandya made his IPL 2015 debut while for MI. The all-round player participated in four IPL championships with his squad, but he was cut before the 2022 big auction. The Gujarat Titans, who signed the 30-year-old for the 2022 season, saw him lead the team to a historic victory in their inaugural campaign. In 2023, he guided them to their second straight final, where they lost in a thrilling match against the Chennai Super Kings.
However, since being named captain in 2013, Rohit has totally changed the fortunes of MI, leading them to five IPL titles. The opener will be seen playing as a pure batter for the first time in a long time in the upcoming season, so his hitting performances, which haven’t been the finest in recent seasons, will be closely watched.
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