(Image Source: X- Mumbai Indians)
[Saba Sports News] The red-ball cricket season has returned to India, with domestic cricket already in full swing. Alongside this, the Indian national team is preparing for their first Test series against England. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the initial two Tests of the five-match series starting January 25 in Hyderabad.
(Image Source: X- Mumbai Indians)
Several Indian Premier League (IPL) teams have posted about their players participating in the series against England. However, Mumbai Indians (MI), a major IPL franchise, sparked controversy with their post about the Indian squad. They omitted an image of the Indian national captain and their former leader, Rohit Sharma, from their post.
Fans expressed their disappointment on social media, accusing the franchise of disrespect. Some even speculated this omission as an indication of Rohit Sharma being benched for the upcoming IPL 2024 season. Instead, MI highlighted vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, along with KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.
In a notable move during the transfer window, Mumbai Indians traded former Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya, announcing him as their new captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. This decision caused widespread speculation and discontent among MI fans, especially given Sharma’s success in leading the team to multiple IPL titles. This latest incident has added fuel to the ongoing controversy regarding the strained relationship between Sharma and Mumbai Indians.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat Titans, who were involved in the trade with MI, released their India squad announcement poster featuring Rohit Sharma and their new captain Shubman Gill. This action by the Gujarat Titans has led to further criticism of Mumbai Indians from fans and cricket experts, questioning the dynamics between the former captain and the franchise.