On Hardik Pandya Replacing Rohit Sharma As Mumbai Indians Captain, Harsha Bhogle's 'Open Secret' Verdict

16.12.2023 - 18:07 sports.ndtv.com

Renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle believes that it was an 'open secret' that Hardik Pandya was going to replace Rohit Sharma as the Mumbai Indians skipper.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise announced the decision ahead of the 2024 season after Hardik completed a sensational move from Gujarat Titans.

Bhogle took to social media to react to the MI decision and said that although this is a move forward for the team, Hardik will face a tough challenge to keep up with the ambition of the side. "That Hardik Pandya would be captain of @mipaltan was an open secret.

Rohit Sharma can lay claim to being, with MS Dhoni, the finest leader in the #IPL. It may not be a bad idea to let him relax and have fun because the IPL can take a lot out of you and he will have led India in 5 tests a little before that.

cricket Mumbai Indians IPL 2024 on as Rohit Sharma Hardik Pandya India

A two-day Test is bound to generate a lot of question marks. The same is happening with the India vs South Africa second Test that ended in less than five sessions on Thursday. As many as 23 wickets tumbled on day one with the hosts being bowled out for 55 and the visitors for 153 before India lost three more wickets in their second innings. In the second session of the second day, India completed the task in 12 overs. Only 107 overs were bowled - making it the shortest Test match ever.

No Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma And Mohammed Shami In Harsha Bhogle's Test Team Of 2023. Only 2 Indians Find Place

Team India's had a mixed bag of results in Test cricket in 2023. The Rohit Sharma-led side played the final game of the year in the longest format of the game against South Africa, losing by an innings and 32 runs. India won Test series against Australia and West Indies, but lost the World Test Championship (WTC) final to the Pat Cummins-led side. In terms of individual performances, star batter Virat Kohli was the team's top-scorer with 671 runs in 12 innings at an average of 55.91. Following his knock of 76 in the second innings of the first Test against South Africa, Kohli ended the year with two centuries and as many half-centuries to his name.

"Intra-Squad Is A Joke": Sunil Gavaskar Rips Into Rohit Sharma-Led Indian Cricket Team

Team India's humiliating 3-day loss in the first Test against South Africa sent shockwaves across the cricketing spectrum. Multiple greats of the game and pundits questioned the team's preapredness for the tour, with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar highlighting the absence of practice matches as one of the biggest reasons behind the result embarrasing result. Gavaskar even called India's intra-squad matches a 'joke' as he lambasted Rohit Sharma and the team management's decision to not play First Class practice matches before the start of the 2-match series.

'Rohit Sharma Back As Mumbai Indians Captain?': Internet On Overdrive As Injury May Rule Out Hardik Pandya Of IPL 2024

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya's ankle injury, which he suffered during the World Cup, is likely to rule him out of the upcoming T20I series, while the player participation in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) remains a doubt. NDTV sources have confirmed that Hardik will miss the T20I series against Afghanistan on home soil, and the newly-appointed Mumbai Indians captain might not recover in time to lead the team in the 17th season of IPL.

Hardik Pandya, New Mumbai Indians Captain, May Miss IPL 2024 Due To Injury: Sources

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya could miss the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to an ankle injury, NDTV sources confirmed on Saturday. This comes after Hardik was traded to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans ahead of the IPL players auction. The players was initially named in the retention list by GT, but was traded to MI ahead of the auction as part of an all-cash deal. NDTV sources have confirmed that Hardik will miss the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan, while his participation in the upcoming season of IPL remains a doubt.

"A Decision Like This...": Ex KKR Skipper On Mumbai Indians' Decision To Replace Captain Rohit Sharma

Removing a captain of the stature of Rohit Sharma and replacing him with Hardik Pandya is certainly a bod call. Mumbai Indians didn't budge from making the call ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction but a section of fans is understandably not happy with the change. However, former Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan feels the decision has been made by MI keeping in mind the 'long-term benefits' that the franchise hopes to reap from making Hardik the skipper.