Skip to main content

Captaincy Shockwave: Mumbai Indians Unleash Hardik Pandya as Skipper for IPL 2024

Mumbai Indians (MI) have just dropped a bombshell by appointing Hardik Pandya as their new skipper for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season!

The star all-rounder is now the captain, taking over the reins from the legendary Rohit Sharma. And guess what? This wasn't an average transfer deal; it was a mind-blowing INR 15 crore blockbuster trade that brought Hardik back to his roots with the Mumbai Indians, leaving his stint with the Gujarat Titans behind.

Some die-hard Rohit Sharma fans are not thrilled about this and have even gone to the extent of unfollowing the MI social media handles. The franchise has witnessed a drop of 0.9 million followers since the announcement – that's from 13.2 million to 12.3 million. 

Rohit Sharma led MI to a whopping 87 victories in 158 matches, making him one of the most successful captains in IPL history. During his glorious 10-year stint as skipper, he guided MI to the cricketing summit not once, not twice, but FIVE times! That's right, five IPL trophies proudly sitting in the MI cabinet. 

Pandya, who took Gujarat Titans to not one, but two consecutive IPL finals in the last two seasons. He even bagged the trophy in the inaugural season.

Rohit has scored 600 runs in 30 matches at an average of 20 since 2022, with just two half-centuries to his name. In IPL 2022, MI finished at the bottom of the table.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Cricket Online Betting Tips and Predictions

We are now in the era where you could not only bet on horse racing or football, but many ways to get involved in sports betting, even if it was illegal in some parts of the world before. One of the World's most popular sports is cricket but even the immense following from sports supporters isn’t enough to tempt as much exposure in terms of bets you can make on it. Online bookmakers always provide the most cutting-edge markets as well as cover all possible sports that might interest the many punters they cater for. Cricket is now considered with all other primary sports so the availability to bet on the Gentlemen's game is starting to be just as prominent . The issue back then is working out where to place your bet, how to make most of it, and which markets are worth considering placing bets. Key betting markets: Match Winner - As with most sports you’ll consider placing bets, the basic result option is likely to appear early on, if not at the summit of the p...

IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals to Welcome Rahul Dravid as New Head Coach

Rahul Dravid prepares to take on the head coach role for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 season.  The 52-year-old, who recently coached India to their T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, is set to return to the Royals, a team he captained in 2012 and 2013 and mentored until 2015. Dravid's connection with the Royals runs deep. His leadership during his playing days and subsequent mentorship laid a strong foundation for the franchise. His return as head coach brings a wealth of experience, especially after his successful stint as India's head coach, where he was instrumental in guiding a new generation of cricketers. The move is strategic for the Royals, who are looking to build on their past successes with a strong focus on player development and retention ahead of the upcoming IPL auction. Dravid will reunite with Sanju Samson, whom he mentored during his earlier stint, and who will continue as the team's captain. Kumar Sangakkara will maintain his role as Director of Cricket b...

End of an Era: Southee to Retire from Tests After England Tour

Tim Southee, New Zealand’s prolific paceman and all-time leading wicket-taker across formats, has announced the third Test against England could be his final appearance in red-ball cricket.  If New Zealand qualifies for the World Test Championship (WTC) final next year, he may make himself available for one last hurrah. Southee, 35, will have a fitting end to his career at Seddon Park, Hamilton, his home ground. Reflecting on his 18-year journey, he expressed gratitude, saying, “To play such a big series against the team I began my Test career against and at grounds so special to me is the perfect way to bow out.” The veteran has struggled recently, managing only three wickets on the spin-friendly pitches in India. He relinquished the Test captaincy to Tom Latham on that tour, underscoring his commitment to a gradual transition. Coach Gary Stead praised Southee’s endurance and competitive spirit, calling him “an incredibly tough competitor.” New Zealand have named a 14-man squad fo...