Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach, Dinesh Lad, opened up about the Mumbai Indians’ captaincy saga that happened during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. He said that the senior batter should’ve continued leading the team, especially with the way he captained the side.
One of the biggest talking points of the IPL 2024 was the captaincy of Mumbai Indians. Ahead of the league, the franchise sacked Rohit Sharma and made Hardik Pandya the captain of the team, and the decision didn’t go well with the fans, who just kept booing the new captain.
Rohit Sharma made Mumbai Indians the joint most successful franchise in the league with five titles under his belt as leader
This is because Rohit Sharma is the major reason behind Mumbai Indians being the successful franchise in the league. The premier batter took over the leadership of the team in 2013 and guided them to five titles over the course of his leadership stint.
Sharma made Mumbai Indians the joint most successful franchise in the league. Also, he is the leading run-getter for the franchise in the league and him being one of the biggest Indian cricketers, not many expected him to be sacked the way he was.
The way he led the Mumbai Indians to 5 IPL titles, he should’ve been the skipper – Dinesh Lad on franchise making Hardik Pandya skipper
Dinesh Lad talked about the same, saying that Sharma didn’t say that he didn’t want to play and the franchise shouldn’t have removed him. Speaking on a podcast, he explained:
“It was the franchise’s decision. Rohit didn’t say that he didn’t want to play. Basically, he shouldn’t have lost the captaincy, Rohit should’ve been captain. The way he led the Mumbai Indians to 5 IPL titles, he should’ve been the skipper. But it was the franchise’s decision, I can’t say anything on that.”
It wasn’t Hardik vs Rohit – Dinesh Lad
Dinesh Lad also talked about fans not accepting Hardik Pandya as captain of Mumbai Indians. He didn’t comment on that, saying that it wasn’t Pandya vs Sharma and instead was the franchise’s decision.
“I don’t know the reasons for why it happened. I don’t want to speak anything on that. He’s a good cricketer. As I said earlier, it was the franchise’s decision, it wasn’t Hardik vs Rohit.”
There were a lot of rumours of a rift between Sharma and Hardik Pandya during the IPL 2024. However, it all ended after India won the ICC T20 World 2024. The duo has been bonding very well and they would be hoping to take Mumbai Indians to another title win this year.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is all set to begin on 22nd March and Mumbai Indians will be opening their campaign against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on 23rd March at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Also read: Not Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma! Ravichandran Ashwin names India’s ‘game-changer’ in CT 2025 final
