Mumbai Indians (MI) have made a big statement by bringing back all-rounder Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans (GT) in a whopping INR 15 crores and an undisclosed transfer fee. The move has left many fans and players wondering what it means for the future of the franchise and its captaincy.
One of the most prominent names who might be affected by this decision is star batsman Suryakumar Yadav, who has been leading the Indian team in T20 internationals in the absence of Rohit Sharma, who decided to skip both the series against Australia and South Africa after the ICC World Cup 2023 got over. Surya was also named as India’s captain for the ongoing T20 series against Australia.
Surya has served as Rohit’s deputy in the past and captained one match in the 2023 season in his absence. He might have captaincy ambitions once Rohit steps down and Hardik’s potential return might be an obstacle for him. Surya posted a ‘heartbreak’ emoji on his Instagram story on Saturday, indicating his disappointment over the news.
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Another player who was eyeing the MI captaincy was Jasprit Bumrah, who was also overlooked by the MI management as the captain. Bumrah had also posted a cryptic message on his Instagram account after Pandya was brought back from GT to MI last month. “Silence is sometimes the best answer,” Bumrah had posted on his Insta story on November 28.
Bumrah is a senior cricketer at MI and has led India in a T20 series in Ireland earlier this year. He might also fall down in the pecking order if Hardik does return to MI. However, Bumrah continues to follow Pandya and Sharma on social media, suggesting that he is not too upset with them.
The official X (formerly Twitter) account of Mumbai Indians posted a message on Thursday, referencing Bumrah’s Instagram story. The post sparked rumours related to the ongoing situation between Mumbai and their star bowler, with many speculating that Bumrah could be handed the captaincy of the franchise in order to smooth over relations between him and MI.
However, it is not clear if this is true or just a speculation. The final decision will depend on how Pandya performs with his new team and how he adapts to his role as a leader. It will also depend on how Rohit Sharma plans his comeback and whether he wants to continue as an IPL captain or not.
MI fans are eagerly waiting for more clarity from their franchise regarding their captaincy situation. They hope that they can retain their core players like Pandya, Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Quinton de Kock, etc., while also adding some quality players to strengthen their squad for IPL 2024.
