MI captaincy twist: Rohit backed Tilak Varma mid-season

With the decision to appoint Hardik Pandya as captain being taken without the approval of Rohit Sharma, and the franchise still failing to win an IPL title over the last three seasons, fresh questions are being raised about Mumbai Indians’ leadership succession. It has now emerged that Rohit had suggested Tilak Varma as the franchise’s next captain during the middle of the season itself, sources told CricBlogger.

Sources further claimed that the relationship between Rohit and Hardik never fully recovered after Hardik left Mumbai Indians for Gujarat Titans after the 2021 IPL season. Rohit had informed the Mumbai Indians management that Hardik was ‘unlikely to bowl again’ because of his injury concerns and that there was little merit in retaining him solely as a batter.

However, when the Mumbai Indians owners saw Hardik not only bowling for Gujarat Titans but also making a significant impact, they were left surprised. Discussions over bringing him back gathered momentum after Gujarat Titans reached the IPL final again the following season (2023).

Sources added that before Hardik agreed to return to Mumbai Indians, he was assured that Rohit would be removed as captain. Rohit, meanwhile, was not prepared to relinquish the role, especially with the knowledge that he would lead India at the 2024 T20 World Cup. He was also unwilling to accept Hardik as Mumbai Indians’ captain, according to sources.

The clash of interests between Rohit and Hardik has continued for years, and it now appears increasingly unlikely that the two will represent the same franchise again. Some within cricketing circles have even alleged that Rohit’s camp attempted to use public relations channels to undermine Hardik’s captaincy after the leadership change. “The fact that Rohit is suggesting Tilak’s name itself shows the extent of the toxicity between them,” the source added.

There is also growing curiosity over why Mumbai Indians are once again paying heed to Rohit’s views on the franchise’s next captain despite the trust deficit that developed between the player and the management years ago. If the relationship had indeed deteriorated to such an extent, many within cricketing circles are questioning why Rohit’s recommendation continues to carry significant weight in the franchise’s decision-making process.

While Hardik is still expected to have plenty of suitors because of his value as a world-class all-rounder and proven captaincy credentials, Rohit may not command the same level of interest anymore, given the concerns surrounding his fitness, age and long-term availability.