Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara opened up about Hardik Pandya replacing Rohit Sharma as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI). Ravi Bopara acknowledged Rohit Sharma’s significant influence in shaping the champion side in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Mumbai Indians made a bold and significant choice by appointing Hardik Pandya as their captain for the upcoming IPL 2024 season. Rohit Sharma, considered one of the best IPL captains alongside MS Dhoni, guided MI to five trophies in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Hardik Pandya had a successful stint as captain of the Gujarat Titans (GT) team, secured the championship, and led the team to the top of the IPL 2023 points table in the league stage. The star all-rounder has also led the Indian national cricket team in white-ball cricket.
Rohit Sharma Has Made The MI Side – Ravi Bopra
In a conversation with the Times of India, Ravi Bopara emphasized the challenge for Hardik Pandya in stepping into Rohit Sharma’s leadership role. Bopara highlighted the need for Hardik to excel in both batting and bowling while leading a team of star players.
“Rohit Sharma has made the MI side. That is the champion side. Now, Hardik will be leading that champion side. They have star players and game-changers. Hardik will be working with the best players. Apart from captaining the side, it will be important for Hardik to bat and bowl well. I hope he has a good tournament with both bat and ball and helps MI succeed and win the tournament. I wish him all the luck,” Bopara said.
The newly appointed MI captain is facing the possibility of missing IPL 2024 due to a knee injury. Reports suggest strong indications that the all-rounder may not be fully recovered from the injury, raising doubts about his availability for the upcoming IPL season.
Hardik Pandya, with 92 matches under his belt for MI, showcased his dual prowess, scoring 1476 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 153.91. Additionally, he was impactful with the ball, securing 42 wickets at an average of 31.26 and an economy rate of 9.06.
Hardik Pandya Showed His Desire To Go Back There – Ashish Nehra
Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra recently revealed that Hardik Pandya expressed his desire to return to the Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2024. Nehra mentioned that it wasn’t a huge surprise, as Hardik had played for the Mumbai Indians for several years.
“Hardik Pandya going back to that team has not caused a huge surprise. He played for that team for so many years, he showed his desire to go back there,” Nehra said.
“Our management’s nature is such that, we think if a player wants to go there, right. He should be happy and that’s why he has gone there again. Replacing someone like Hardik is difficult, but we tried our best,” he continued.
Hardik Pandya has been sidelined since the 2023 World Cup league match against Bangladesh, where he twisted his ankle while attempting to stop a ball in his follow-through. Pandya scored an unbeaten 11 and took five wickets at an average of 22.60 in the tournament.
Also read: After Hardik Pandya’s Move To Mumbai Indians, KL Rahul To Return To RCB? Indian Star Drops Bombshell
