Speculations of a rift between former Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Rohit Sharma and the current skipper Hardik Pandya have been circulating within the MI camp. According to a report by India Today, Indian players within the team are advocating for Rohit’s reinstatement as captain, while overseas players are reportedly content with Hardik’s leadership.
Hardik, who was brought into the MI setup last year in a record-breaking trade deal, surprised fans when he was named captain. Rohit Sharma’s disappointment was evident as he unfollowed MI on social media platforms.
Fans have been booing Hardik during matches, especially during MI’s home games. Hardik’s poor form and MI’s lacklustre performance, despite having a star-studded lineup, have compounded the team’s struggles. Expert opinions on Hardik’s captaincy have been divided, with some supporting MI’s decision for a smooth transition while others criticized the announcement method.
A Dainik Jagran report revealed that Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma left the nets when Hardik walked into bat before an MI match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Reports of internal discord within the MI camp have spread rapidly, as neither Hardik nor Rohit have publicly addressed the issue.
With MI likely to finish the season at the bottom, having won only four out of thirteen matches, the team faces a leadership challenge. To salvage the season’s end on a positive note, they will aim for a victory in their final league game on May 17.
