Rohit Sharma’s time as the Mumbai Indians captain has officially ended, and now, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to lead the team in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This comes after Pandya’s surprising move back to Mumbai Indians, which was confirmed after the retention deadline.
Pandya, who started his IPL journey in 2015, played under Rohit’s captaincy for seven seasons before joining the Gujarat Titans in 2022. He had successful stints with the Titans, leading them to victory in IPL 2022 and reaching the finals in the recent season. The change in leadership marks a new chapter for the Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL season.
Rohit Sharma MI Captaincy Journey: 2013-2023
Rohit Sharma became MI captain in 2013, leading the team to all five IPL titles. MI and CSK, captained by MS Dhoni, developed a strong rivalry during this period. Often, both teams excelled in the league, meeting in three IPL finals, with MI emerging victorious each time.
The intense competition added spice to the league, making matches between the two sides highly anticipated. Rohit’s leadership played a crucial role in MI’s success, establishing him as one of the most successful IPL captains. However, in 2024, MI made a surprising move by appointing Hardik Pandya as the new captain, marking the end of Rohit’s remarkable tenure.
MI vs CSK Title Showdowns
CSK paid tribute to Rohit Sharma’s decade-long leadership as MI captain on Thursday, following the surprising announcement of Hardik Pandya taking over. In a tweet, CSK expressed respect, saying, “A decade of spirited challenge! Much respect, Rohit!”
The tweet included a photo of Dhoni and Rohit shaking hands. MI’s first IPL triumph in 2013, with Rohit taking over mid-season, saw them beat CSK by 23 runs in the final. The second title came in 2015, again defeating CSK in the championship match. The intense rivalry and title clashes between MI and CSK have been a highlight of the IPL’s cricketing drama.
MI’s IPL Triumphs: Highlights
MI clinched their third IPL title in 2017 against Rising Pune Supergiant, where Dhoni played for the opponent during CSK’s ban. The fourth title came in 2019 after a thrilling victory over CSK, and in 2020, MI defeated DC, becoming one of the only two teams, alongside Chennai, to successfully defend their IPL title. The journey showcased resilience and triumph for MI in the face of challenges.
Rohit Sharma IPL Records: Noteworthy
Rohit Sharma, the fourth-highest run-scorer in IPL history with 6211 runs, contributed 3986 runs as captain with a superb strike rate of 129.37. Among IPL captains, he ranks third after Kohli and Dhoni.
His successor, Hardik Pandya, joined Mumbai Indians in 2015 as an uncapped player and became integral to the team’s success, scoring 1476 runs and taking 42 wickets. Hardik played a vital role in MI’s title victories in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. The transition from Rohit to Hardik marks a new chapter for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL season.