Another bombshell! This time from Mumbai Indians' very own Suryakumar Yadav.
Mumbai Indians have officially named Hardik Pandya as the captain for the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), putting an end to Rohit Sharma's remarkable tenure.
Rohit took over the captaincy midway through IPL 2013, from a misfiring Ricky Ponting, leading the team to five IPL titles in 10 seasons.
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However, winds of change were blowing in the MI camp after they bought back Hardik from Gujarat Titans during the trading window.
The decision to appoint Hardik as the captain of Mumbai Indians for the 2024 edition of the IPL came as a surprise to many, given the initial expectations that Rohit would continue as the leader, at least for the 2024 edition.
Some even speculated that Rohit would participate in the 2024 T20 World Cup and lead the Indian team. However, the sudden announcement of Hardik taking over as the captain of Mumbai Indians seems to be at odds with the earlier indications from Rohit's camp.
What did Suryakumar Yadav post? Why did he do so?
Now, Suryakumar has shared a post on his Instagram which has taken social media by storm.
The 'heart-broken' emoji has sparked speculation among fans regarding his feelings about Hardik replacing Rohit as the Mumbai Indians' new captain. Suryakumar, a key player for MI since 2018, was retained in 2022, and his post has led fans to question if he is unhappy with the change in leadership.
Given that Suryakumar served as the vice-captain of MI in IPL 2023 and even captained the side in one game when Rohit was unavailable, fans have theorized whether he anticipated himself as the potential successor to the five-time IPL-winning skipper.
Rohit Sharma vs Hardik Pandya: IPL captaincy record compared
| Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Win% | Runs | Avg | SR | |
| Rohit Sharma | 158 | 87 | 67 | 4 | 55.06% | 3986 | 30.25 | 129.37 |
| Hardik Pandya | 31 | 22 | 9 | 0 | 70.97% | 833 | 37.86 | 133.49 |
MORE: MS Dhoni's iconic No. 7 jersey retired by BCCI to honour the former captain
How have fans reacted to Hardik Pandya's captaincy decision?
The Mumbai Indians fans have not taken the captaincy announcement easily. It is noticed that Mumbai Indians' Instagram handle has lost over 150,000 followers within 12 hours of the announcement. The fans have expressed their agony over all possible social media platforms.
Mumbai Indians lost around 1.5 Lakh followers today after the announcement. pic.twitter.com/GkaMbcwesc
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 15, 2023
The fans are seen setting the Mumbai Indians jersey to fire. Such has been the disappointment among the fan groups, as the Mumbai franchise announce the change in power in the dressing room.
— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) December 15, 2023
Some fans have predicted the downfall of Mumbai Indians as an institution. Rohit Sharma brought the team all the laurels, and the fans are perplexed with his sacking as captain.
Mumbai Indians before captain Rohit Sharma
— Nisha (@NishaRo45_) December 15, 2023
Choking shamelessly every year
History will repeat itself just wait #RohitSharma l #HardikPandya #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/w9OwT3WTzn
Other IPL franchises, including arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings, have posted tributes for Rohit Sharma.
2013 ➡️ 2023 : A decade of spirited challenge! Much respect, Rohit! 🫡🔥 pic.twitter.com/B8rqCmmT5R
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) December 15, 2023
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