Mumbai Indians (MI), the five-time champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), caused a stir in cricket circles by appointing Hardik Pandya as their new captain for the upcoming IPL 2024 season, replacing the seasoned opener Rohit Sharma. This surprising move by the franchise stirred up considerable debate and attracted criticism from various quarters. To further intensify the discussion, former MI player and world champion Yuvraj Singh has also shared his thoughts on the matter with a statement.
Yuvraj Singh has expressed his opinion that he would have preferred to give Rohit Sharma another year as the captain of the Mumbai Indians for IPL 2024 season. He suggested that Hardik Pandya could have been appointed as his deputy instead.
"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 Singh.
Yuvraj Singh emphasized that while everyone is entitled to their opinion, a franchise must prioritize its future when making decisions.
"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," said Yuvraj.
Yuvraj Singh highlighted that despite Hardik Pandya's undeniable talent, he might face challenges in managing the immense pressure and expectations associated with leading one of the most prominent teams in the IPL.
"In terms of talent, yes, he (Hardik Pandya) 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," said Yuvraj.
Rohit Sharma will be leading team India during the T20 World Cup 2024 in USA and West Indies in June 2024.