“MI have tried to reduce burden,” Sunil Gavaskar backs decision to make Hardik Pandya Mumbai Indians captain 

Sunil Gavaskar believes Mumbai Indians have found the best possible replacement for Rohit Sharma in Hardik Pandya.

“MI have tried to reduce burden,” Sunil Gavaskar backs decision to make Hardik Pandya Mumbai Indians captain 

Sunil Gavaskar believes Rohit Sharma needed to be replaced by Hardik Pandya (Image via ESPN)

Ever since Mumbai Indians replaced their captain Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya, many fans expressed how they hated the move. MI head coach, Mark Boucher, explained the decision, stating how they wanted to reduce the pressure on Rohit. 

Former Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar, defended the decision to make Pandya captain. He said Sharma needed a free role now, and by making him the captain it would work. He also added that the team was thinking about the future by replacing the 36-year-old. 

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Handing Hardik, the captaincy is only going to benefit the Mumbai Indians. They have now given the freedom to Rohit 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-plus consistently. Mumbai Indians have always thought about the franchise's future. Rohit Sharma is 36 and also faces immense pressure to be an Indian captain. MI have tried to reduce burden and give that responsibility to Hardik Pandya who led GT to back-to-back finals.
Sunil Gavaskar on the Mumbai Indians captaincy saga

Pandya had been released by the team in 2022, but was picked up by Gujarat Titans before the auctions. He led the Titans to an IPL title in their first season and was runners-up in their 2nd. Pandya returned to the team in 2023 in an all-cash trade deal.

Sunil Gavaskar believes SRH should drop Aiden Markram

In the 2024 IPL auction, Pat Cummins became the 2nd most expensive buy in the history of the IPL for ₹20.5 crore. He was purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad, who already had Aiden Markram as their captain. But Sunil Gavaskar feels Markram will lose his role as captain to the current World Cup-winning champion instead. 

Pat Cummins Travis Head
Pat Cummins and Travis Head played integral roles in Australia winning the 2023 ODI World Cup (Image via ESPN)

He further added that SRH should use Travis Head instead of the South African as Cummins would know how to use the southpaw as well. Gavaskar’s four overseas picks are Cummins, Head, Heinrich Klassen and Wanindu Hasaranga. 

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