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IPL 2024

'Haa toh Bumrah and Surya ko q nhi banaya' - Fans react as Sunil Gavaskar defends Mumbai Indian's decision to change captaincy regime

Sunil Gavaskar, the cricketing legend, has voiced his support for the Mumbai Indians' decision to appoint Hardik Pandya as the captain for the upcoming IPL 2024 season, replacing Rohit Sharma.

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Mathew K
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Sunil Gavaskar on Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya

Sunil Gavaskar on Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya (Source: Twitter)

Sunil Gavaskar, the cricketing legend, has voiced his support for the Mumbai Indians' decision to appoint Hardik Pandya as the captain for the upcoming IPL 2024 season, replacing Rohit Sharma. This move, which marked the end of Rohit's ten-year captaincy, has stirred discussions among fans, with speculations of a possible rift between the two players.

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Gavaskar, in his recent analysis on Star Sports, shed light on the strategic thinking behind the Mumbai Indians' decision. He emphasised the franchise's focus on the future, considering Rohit Sharma's age of 36. He also pointed out that the immense pressure Rohit faces as the captain across all three formats for India was also a reason. By appointing Hardik Pandya as captain, MI aims to relieve some of Rohit's burdens, allowing him to play more freely without the added responsibility of leadership.

"Look, they have always thought about the future of the franchise. Rohit Sharma is already 36 years old and also faces immense pressure as the captain of India for all three formats. They have tried to reduce some of that burden and give that responsibility on the young shoulders of Hardik Pandya," says Sunil Gavaskar.

Highlighting the potential positive impact of this strategic shift on the team's overall performance, Gavaskar said,

"Handing Hardik the captaincy is only going to benefit the Mumbai Indians. They have now given Rohit the freedom to go and express himself freely at the top of the order. Hardik can then come at No. 3 or No. 5 and help them post totals of 200 or more consistently.”

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Mark Boucher has emphasised the decision of the Mumbai Indians!

Mumbai Indians' coach, Mark Boucher, further explained the rationale behind this decision on the Smash Sports podcast, emphasizing that it was a cricketing decision aimed at optimizing the team's performance. Boucher sees it as a transition phase and believes that it will bring out the best in Rohit Sharma, allowing him to enjoy the game and focus on scoring runs without the added pressure of captaincy.

The decision to appoint Hardik Pandya as captain reflects the evolving dynamics of the Mumbai Indians' squad and their forward-thinking approach. Gavaskar's endorsement underscores the strategic mindset behind the move, aiming to strike a balance between experience and youth while ensuring the team's competitiveness in the IPL 2024 season. As the cricketing world awaits the unfolding of this new chapter, the Mumbai Indians' decision continues to spark debates and discussions among fans and experts alike.

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Here is how fans react to Sunil Gavaskar's comments: 

Mumbai Indians Rohit Sharma Hardik Pandya featured Sunil Gavaskar IPL 2024