The reported move comes shortly after Mumbai Indians overhauled their entire coaching staff, signalling a significant shift in the franchise's approach ahead of the upcoming season.
Mumbai Indians have appointed Kieron Pollard as their new head coach. The franchise has also brought in former player Robin Uthappa as batting coach, Mitchell McClenaghan as bowling coach, T Dilip as fielding coach and Dhawal Kulkarni as development bowling coach.
The decision to reconsider the captaincy follows Mumbai Indians' disappointing performance under Hardik Pandya last season. The team lost 10 of its 14 matches and finished ninth in the standings, prompting the franchise to consider a change in leadership.
Before departing for the New Zealand tour, Rohit Sharma held several rounds of discussions with the franchise regarding the captaincy. He was also consulted during the appointment of the new coaching staff.
During the discussions, Rohit initially suggested handing the captaincy to young batter Tilak Varma to help prepare the team for the future. However, following a special request from the franchise, Rohit has reportedly agreed to take charge of Mumbai Indians once again.
Hardik Pandya's captaincy had attracted considerable criticism after he joined Mumbai Indians through a trade from Gujarat Titans. The team's disappointing performances were accompanied by strong opposition from fans at the Wankhede Stadium, where Pandya faced considerable hostility.
With the reported decision to remove Pandya from the captaincy, attention has now shifted to his future with the franchise.
Speculation is growing that Mumbai Indians could trade Pandya to another franchise before the start of the IPL 2027 season. However, if a trade deal does not materialise, Pandya has reportedly agreed to continue playing as a player under Rohit Sharma's captaincy.
The proposed leadership change, following the coaching overhaul, could mark a new phase for Mumbai Indians as the franchise prepares for the IPL 2027 season.
About The Author
Comment List