The question of who will lead the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 – Rohit Sharma or Hardik Pandya – has been a topic of interest among Indian cricket fans. The recent speculation surrounding Pandya’s potential move back to the Mumbai Indians from the Gujarat Titans has only intensified the intrigue. Initially, Pandya was included in the Gujarat Titans’ retained players’ list, but sources revealed after the deadline that he had been traded-off with the Mumbai Indians.
The move was officially confirmed by the IPL a day later. Spin stalwart Ravichandran Ashwin believes that if all-rounder Hardik Pandya is made the Mumbai Indians skipper, Rohit Sharma will handle the situation gracefully. Ashwin praises Sharma as a team player with minimal ego, stating that he is a great human being and a sound leader.
Pandya recently returned to the Mumbai Indians after a trade-off deal with the Gujarat Titans, the team he led for two years. Pandya initially started his IPL career with the Mumbai Indians in 2015 and won four titles with them. However, in 2022, he moved to the Gujarat Titans and led the team to a title victory in the same season, as well as a runner-up finish in IPL 2023.
The decision to bring Pandya back to the Mumbai Indians raised eyebrows, especially regarding the team’s captaincy, which currently belongs to Rohit Sharma. Ashwin acknowledges the significance of this move, as it is rare for top teams like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings to release players. He sees it as a milestone achievement and believes that Pandya’s return will have a positive impact on the team.
When asked about his retirement plans, Ashwin, 37, said that he would call it quits when he loses motivation. He admits to going through a dark phase in life for the past four to five years and seeking help for mental health. However, he has been preparing for life after cricket for five years and is interested in exploring marketing and other fields. Ashwin emphasized his passion for cricket, stating that he cannot stop watching and being involved in the sport. He concluded by saying that he will continue to contribute to cricket and explore other opportunities as well.
It is important to note that the information in this article is based on PTI inputs.
