Hardik Pandya becomes new Mumbai Indians captain, Rohit Sharma steps down

Hardik Pandya was named the captain of Mumbai Indians for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. In November, Mumbai Indians completed Hardik Pandya's transfer from Gujarat Titans -- the franchise he led for two years. 

"Renowned all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to take the helm as the captain of the Mumbai Indians, succeeding its longest-serving, one of the most successful and loved captains the illustrious Rohit Sharma," the IPL side said in a statement on Friday.       

"It is part of legacy building and staying true to the MI philosophy of being future-ready. Mumbai Indians have always been blessed with exceptional leadership right from Sachin to Harbhajan and Ricky to Rohit, who while contributing to the immediate success have always had an eye on strengthening the team for the future. It is in keeping with this philosophy that Hardik Pandya will assume captaincy," the statement said  Global Head of Performance Mahela Jayawardene as saying.

"We express our gratitude to Rohit Sharma for his exceptional leadership; his tenure as the captain of the Mumbai Indians since 2013 has been nothing short of extraordinary. His leadership has not only brought unparalleled success to the team but has also solidified his place as one of the finest captains in the history of the IPL. Under his guidance, MI became one of the most successful and loved teams ever. We will look forward to his guidance and experience on and off the field to further strengthen MI," he added. 

Pandya was picked by Gujarat Titans before the 2022 auction from the list of available players for the two new franchises -- GT and Lucknow Super Giants. His reported fee was Rs 15 crore and he led the side to back-to-back finals, winning the championship in his maiden year and losing a thriller to CSK in 2023.

It was then reported that Mumbai Indians, who have one of the most systematic team building processes, have roped in Pandya with a long-term plan in mind as there will be a mega auction in 2025 and every franchise will try to build a new team with a young core.

The significant development also raises questions about Rohit's future in the shortest format. The 36-year-old was left heartbroken after India fell short in the final hurdle against Australia in the ODI World Cup at home after winning 10 games on the trot.

Another ODI World Cup appearance seems unlikely but he could be back to lead India in the T20 World Cup in six months' time. Interestingly, Rohit and Virat Kohli have not turned up for India in the T20 format since the semifinal exit at the World Cup in Australia last year.