(Cricket News) Hardik Pandya has been named the captain for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024, marking his return to the team after being acquired from Gujarat Titans. Taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, who has led the team since the 2013 season, Pandya is set to lead the charge for the upcoming season.
In a press release issued on Friday, Mahela Jayawardene, the franchise’s global head of performance, emphasized the significance of legacy building and adhering to the MI philosophy of future readiness. The statement highlighted Mumbai Indians’ tradition of exceptional leadership, from Sachin to Harbhajan, Ricky, and Rohit, and underscored the strategic move to entrust Hardik Pandya with the captaincy for the IPL 2024 season.
The release expressed gratitude to Rohit Sharma for his outstanding leadership, acknowledging his extraordinary tenure as captain since 2013. Sharma’s contribution not only led to unparalleled success but also solidified his position as one of the finest captains in the history of the IPL.
In 2013, Mumbai Indians, having struggled initially under Ricky Ponting’s captaincy, turned to Rohit Sharma to lead the team—a decision that culminated in their inaugural league title. Since then, Rohit has guided the team to four additional titles, tying with MS Dhoni for the most titles by any captain. Meanwhile, Pandya, who had previously left MI for Gujarat, led the new franchise to a title in their debut IPL season.
While defending the title in the latest season, Pandya and his team reached the final, only to be defeated by the Chennai Super Kings. Reflecting on his return to Mumbai, Pandya expressed the special significance of coming back to where his cricketing journey began in 2015 with MI, emphasizing the franchise’s recognition of him in 2013. He remarked on the past decade as exceptionally special and the fulfillment of achieving various milestones.
Hardik’s return to Mumbai was a notable highlight during the player trading window preceding the IPL 2024 auction. In order to accommodate the Indian all-rounder, the franchise traded Australia’s Cameron Green to the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Also Read: Could 2024 well be Rohit’s final IPL season for MI?
