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[Saba Sports News] Internal tensions have emerged in the Mumbai Indians squad following the controversial return and subsequent captaincy appointment of Hardik Pandya, a move that replaced the highly successful captain Rohit Sharma. The team’s atmosphere became more charged when Jasprit Bumrah, a seasoned fast bowler for the team, shared an enigmatic quote on Instagram, indicating his surprise at the decision. Adding to this, Suryakumar Yadav, another vital player for Mumbai Indians, also expressed his dismay by posting a cryptic Instagram story with a broken heart emoji.
Rohit, renowned as one of IPL’s most accomplished captains, led the team to five championships. Despite his domestic success, he faced challenges internationally, particularly in the 2022 T20 World Cup, the 2023 World Test Championship, and the ICC World Cup 2023. Suryakumar, known for his close relationship with Rohit, seems to be disheartened by MI’s decision to strip Rohit of his captaincy. His social media activity suggests it’s a response to this significant change.
Rohit, 36, who has been absent from India’s T20I squad since the 2022 T20 World Cup, will not captain the IPL team in 2024. After India’s loss in the 2023 World Cup, he took a break from cricket but is preparing for a comeback in the upcoming Test series against South Africa starting December 26. While his return to the T20I format remains uncertain, there is growing anticipation for his performance in the upcoming Test matches.
Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, has demonstrated his cricketing skills in the 2022-23 seasons with Gujarat Titans. In 31 matches, he scored 833 runs at an average of 37.86 and a strike rate above 133, including six half-centuries and a top score of an unbeaten 87. His contributions with the ball were equally significant, taking 11 wickets with a best performance of 3/17.
During his time with Mumbai Indians from 2015 to 2021, Pandya consistently performed in 92 matches, scoring 1,476 runs and taking 42 wickets. His impressive IPL career includes five championship wins, four with Mumbai Indians and one with Gujarat Titans.