A big surprise happened when Mumbai Indians chose Hardik Pandya to be the captain for the IPL 2024 season, replacing Rohit Sharma, who led the team to win five IPL titles. Fans were confused, but the Mumbai Indians coach, Mark Boucher, shared why they made this unexpected decision.
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The main reason was cricket-related. Rohit Sharma, at 36 years old, is thought to be past his best as a batter. Mumbai Indians decided to make Hardik Pandya the captain because he did well leading the Gujarat Titans in two IPL finals, winning one.
Boucher said it wasn’t an emotional decision but a smart move to bring back Hardik as a player. They want to give Rohit a chance to enjoy playing without the pressure of being the captain, believing it will bring out the best in him.
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The coach also mentioned the non-cricketing parts of the IPL, like photoshoots and advertising, which can distract players from the game. Boucher wants to ease Rohit’s load, letting him focus on batting, especially after facing challenges in recent seasons.
