Suryakumar Yadav Hints at Replacing Hardik Pandya as Mumbai Indians Skipper Before IPL 2025

Prepend to the Content

Read Original Content: Suryakumar Yadav Hints at Replacing Hardik Pandya as Mumbai Indians Skipper Before IPL 2025

Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20I captain, has finally addressed the rumours surrounding his potential captaincy of the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Speculation had been swirling about whether he might take over the leadership from Hardik Pandya, who currently captains the side.

Following the retirement of Rohit Sharma from the T20 format after India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign, many believed that Hardik Pandya, his deputy, would naturally step into the role for both India and Mumbai Indians. 

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) surprised many by handing the reins of the national T20 side to Suryakumar instead, sidelining Hardya Pandya for the leadership position.

In a similar shake-up at the franchise level, MI made a bold move before the IPL 2024 season. They parted ways with their long-time captain Rohit Sharma, who led the team to five IPL titles, and handed the captaincy to Hardik Pandya.

Hardik Pandya, who had a strong association with MI before his successful stint with Gujarat Titans, was brought back to lead the team as they looked to bounce back after several disappointing seasons.

Tough Times for Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians

However, Hardik Pandya’s leadership of MI in IPL 2024 did not go as planned. The team, once a powerhouse in the league, struggled throughout the season and finished at the bottom of the points table, winning only four of their fourteen games.

The decision to remove Rohit Sharma as captain was met with significant backlash from both fans and cricket experts, who questioned the move and criticized Hardik Pandya’s leadership. Throughout the season, the all-rounder faced intense pressure, with fans often expressing their discontent during matches.

Suryakumar Yadav’s Cheeky Response

Amid these challenges, rumours began circulating about a potential change in MI’s captaincy, with Suryakumar Yadav being tipped as the next in line. When asked about the possibility of taking over as MI captain during a pre-match press conference in Gwalior, Suryakumar gave a lighthearted response, comparing the question to a “googly” delivery.

While he did not confirm anything directly, Suryakumar hinted that he had been heavily involved in discussions during his time under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy at MI, providing inputs whenever necessary. He added that although he’s enjoying his role as captain for the national team, he is uncertain about his future with MI.

“Aapne googly daal diya (laughs). Really enjoying this new role. When I was playing under Rohit bhai’s captaincy in MI, I used to give my inputs whatever I felt at that time. Baaki dekhte hain (laughs). Let’s see what’s in store for the future. You will get to know in due course of time.”

Read Original Content: Suryakumar Yadav Hints at Replacing Hardik Pandya as Mumbai Indians Skipper Before IPL 2025

ProBatsman