NEW DELHI: The appointment of
Hardik Pandya
as Mumbai Indians' captain last December stirred up a whirlwind of controversy, leaving fans divided and sparking speculation about the future of former skipper
Rohit Sharma
.
Amidst the transition in leadership, Rohit's standing within the team and his potential departure have become hot topics of discussion among fans and pundits alike.
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On social media platforms and fan forums, debates have raged, with many expressing their allegiance to Rohit and questioning the wisdom of the leadership switch.
Some have even floated the idea of Rohit's possible move to rival team Chennai Super Kings, adding fuel to the already fiery discussions.
Former England captain
Michael Vaughan
weighed in on the conjecture during a recent episode of the
BeerBiceps
podcast, offering his perspective on Rohit's potential switch to CSK.
"Will he (Rohit Sharma) go to Chennai? Replace Dhoni? Gaikwad is doing it (the captaincy) this year, and it might be just (an act of) holding position for Rohit next year. I see him in Chennai," Vaughan speculated.
"That'd be heartbreaking, honestly. For MI fans, that'd be terrible. I wouldn't mind him going to (Sunrisers) Hyderabad; he played for Deccan Chargers, so that would be romantic," Ranveer Allahbadia, the host of the podcast, said.
Vaughan's comments spurred a range of reactions from fans, with some expressing disappointment at the prospect of Rohit's departure from Mumbai Indians. The rivalry between MI and CSK, both boasting five IPL titles each, adds an intriguing dimension to the speculation surrounding Rohit's future.
In the same podcast, Vaughan also shared his thoughts on Mumbai Indians' leadership dilemma, advocating for Rohit to retain the captaincy.
"I personally would've captained Rohit. Hardik coming back to MI is big enough pressure in itself, and Rohit is obviously going to be the
Indian T20 captain
," Vaughan opined.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has continued to shine on the field under Hardik Pandya's leadership, amassing 156 runs in five matches at an impressive strike rate of 167.74. Despite Mumbai Indians' slow start in the league, Rohit's stellar performances have kept the spotlight firmly on him, fueling further speculation about his role within the franchise.
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