WATCH: Deeply hurt by Hardik Pandya becoming captain, a Rohit Sharma fan BURNS Mumbai Indians jersey and cap, video goes viral

Netzens expressed their anger on social media and criticized MI for forgetting Rohit so soon, a captain under whom the franchise lifted five IPL trophies.

WATCH: Deeply hurt by Hardik Pandya becoming captain, a Rohit Sharma fan BURNS Mumbai Indians jersey and cap, video goes viral

Hardik Pandya (Images via ESPNcricinfo, X)

Rohit Sharma had been a long-standing captain of Mumbai Indians (MI), handling the role since 2013 after taking over the captaincy duties from Ricky Ponting. MI’s golden era started that year itself because they were crowned champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the first time.

Rohit remained as MI skipper for the next season and guided the team to another title in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021. Surely Rohit has left behind a legacy as MI captain. So for the franchise to remove him from the role and make Hardik Pandya the new leader was simply unfathomable for the fans.

YouTube video

A report from the Indian Express claimed Pandya agreed to move to MI only if they made him the captain, which MI obliged, and told Rohit in a series of meetings before the start of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Fans’ anger upon hearing the shocking news of Rohit playing under Pandya in IPL 2024 is immense.

Netzens expressed their anger on social media and criticized MI for forgetting Rohit so soon, a captain under whom the franchise lifted five IPL trophies. A video has been going viral on X (formerly Twitter) where a fan could be seen burning an MI jersey and cap out of frustration due to the recent development.

Check out the viral video here:

Aakash Chopra thinks Hardik Pandya is not a finished product yet

Former India player Aakash Chopra thinks former India pacer Ashish Nehra who works as GT’s head coach played a role in honning Hardik Pandya’s captaincy skills. He believes Pandya still lacks something as captain and MI will need to guide him.

Rohit Sharma Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya (Image via ESPNcricinfo) 
I feel Ashish Nehra had a tremendous role in making Hardik Pandya the captain he was at Gujarat Titans. So Mumbai's job is cut out. They have to provide input at a different level for Hardik to replicate them on the field because I don't think Hardik, as a captain, is a finished product yet.
Chopra said on JioCinema’s ‘#AAKASHVANI’

MI had released Pandya before the IPL 2022 mega auction which saw Gujarat Titans (GT) signing him as captain in their maiden appearance in the cash-rich league. Pandya led the team to victory in that season itself by beating Rajasthan Royals in the final. In the next season, they made it to the final again but lost to MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

In case you missed!