'Would have given...': Yuvraj on Hardik replacing Rohit as MI captain

NEW DELHI: Legendary cricketer

Yuvraj Singh

has weighed in on the Mumbai Indians' (MI) decision to replace

Rohit Sharma

with

Hardik Pandya

as captain for the IPL 2024 season, expressing his opinion that he would have given Rohit one more year at the helm.
Speaking on Star Sports, Yuvraj emphasized the significance of Rohit's leadership credentials, citing his track record of five IPL titles as captain. He suggested that while bringing in Hardik Pandya as a leader was a strategic move, he would have preferred to see Rohit continue as captain for another season, with Hardik serving as his deputy.

"Rohit Sharma is a 5-time IPL winner as a captain. Removing him is a big decision. I would have gotten someone in, like they brought Hardik (Pandya), but I still would have given Rohit one more season and let Hardik be the vice captain and see how the whole franchise works," said Yuvraj.

Yuvraj acknowledged the need for franchises to consider the future, but stressed the value Rohit brings to the team, both as a leader and a player for India. He highlighted the challenge of managing a powerhouse franchise like MI, where expectations are always sky-high.

"I understand from the franchise's point of view, they have to see the future of the franchise. But then again, Rohit is captaining India and still playing well, so it's a big decision," added Yuvraj.

While acknowledging Hardik Pandya's talent, Yuvraj cautioned that leading a team like MI would pose different challenges compared to his previous stint with Gujarat Titans. He emphasized the weight of expectations that come with leading a team of MI's stature, given their illustrious history in the IPL.
"In terms of talent, yes, he has great talent. Being captain of Gujarat will be different from being captain of Mumbai. Expectations are a lot. Mumbai Indians have been a big side," Yuvraj remarked.