Hardik Pandya likely to replace Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians’ skipper in IPL 2024: Reports

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to have its auction on December 19. Before the auction, franchises have the opportunity to trade players, and the transfer window will be open until November 26. Currently, only one trade has taken place, involving the transfer of Caribbean all-rounder Romario Shepherd from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to Mumbai Indians (MI).

However, there are surprising reports circulating on the internet, suggesting that MI’s star captain, Rohit Sharma, may be traded to Gujarat Titans (GT) in exchange for GT’s captain, Hardik Pandya. Alternatively, there are speculations that instead of parting ways with Rohit, the management might consider trading Hardik for their injury-prone player, Jofra Archer.

If these reports hold true, it would be a shocking development for fans to see Rohit Sharma leave MI and join GT in the upcoming season. Rohit, a right-handed batter, has played a pivotal role in MI’s success, contributing to their record five IPL victories. He shares the honour of being the most successful captain in IPL history with the legendary MS Dhoni, both having secured the title five times.

Hardik Pandya led GT to 2 consecutive IPL finals

Hardik Pandya initially joined Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2015 and played a crucial role in four title-winning campaigns for the franchise in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Surprisingly, he was released from MI ahead of the 2022 mega auction.

In the 15th edition of the IPL, two new franchises entered the cash-rich league. Gujarat Titans (GT) secured Hardik in a significant deal, bidding a whopping INR 15 crore for his services. The decision proved to be a success for GT, as Hardik played a key role in leading the team to their maiden IPL title in their debut season.

Despite this achievement, Hardik faced disappointment in another final earlier this year. Despite his efforts, GT fell short as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) emerged victorious in the final, securing their fifth IPL title.