NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians naming
Hardik Pandya
as
Rohit Sharma
's successor on Friday ahead of
IPL 2024 auction
took the cricketing world by storm.
As the five-time champions labelled the change in leadership as a part of their future planning, there were mixed reactions, quite a few of them being negative as fans were left unimpressed by the manner in which the transition unfolded.
Former India cricketer
Sanjay Manjrekar
however feels the move from Mumbai was a good one and he didn't mind the change at all. Although they hoped that manner of transition doesn't affect Hardik and put in extra pressure on the all-rounder.
"We should not be thinking sentimentally or emotionally about Rohit Sharma. It is a good move by Mumbai Indians because Hardik Pandya is a proven leader and player. He is your in-form T20 captain and player and Rohit Sharma has been around for a long time," Manjrekar said on Star Sports.
"It makes a lot of cricketing sense to bring in Hardik Pandya, I just hope that Hardik Pandya does not feel the pressure due to the way this has happened. Rohit Sharma will be the same batter. If he continues to be the pure batter and not a captain, I don't mind the leadership change at all," Manjrekar added.
The announcement from MI came after Hardik made a return to the franchise last month, following a high-profile trade from Gujarat Titans, whom he led in the past two seasons.
Mumbai Indians are the most successful IPL franchise alongside Chennai Super Kings who both have won five titles each. All the titles MI have won in the last decade came under Rohit's captaincy.
Legendary Sunil Gavaskar also reckoned that Hardik, as the new leader, will bring in 'fresh thinking' in the Mumbai camp as Rohit appeared fatigued and has not contributed enough with the bat in the last few years.
"See, we don't have to look at it (decision appoint Hardik as MI captain) as right or wrong. The decision they (MI) have taken has been for the benefit of the team. We can say that the contribution of Rohit, even with the bat, has become slightly lesser," Gavaskar told Star Sports.
"Earlier, there used to be a lot of contribution (with bat) from Rohit, but in the last few years, they have finished at number 9 or 10. And last year they qualified for the playoffs, but the 'josh' (enthusiasm) of Mumbai Indians was not there to be seen as we have seen in the past.
"Maybe because he has played cricket continuously he must have been fatigued, constantly captaining the Indian side and then Mumbai Indians," added Gavaskar.
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