Mumbai Indian skipper Hardik Pandya ahead of IPL 2024© X (formerly Twitter)
Hardik Pandya opened up about replacing Rohit Sharma as the Mumbai Indians skipper ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season and said that he did not get time to talk to the Indian cricket team skipper much about the topic as he has been touring lately. Pandya completed a sensational move from Gujarat Titans to MI and his appointment meant the end of Rohit’s ten-year tenure as captain. In a recent event, Pandya was asked about whether he had the chance to discuss the change in leadership with Rohit and the India all-rounder had a clear answer.
“Yes and No. I haven’t got a lot of time to talk with Rohit because he has been touring. I will definitely catch up when he links up with the team,” Hardik said at the event.
Pandya also said that Rohit will continue to be a guiding force for him during the IPL despite the unexpected change of leadership that the franchise announced ahead of the upcoming season.
“It will not be any different, he will always be there to help me. This team, what it has achieved, it has achieved under him and I just have to carry forward that. He is going to have his hand on my shoulders,” said Pandya in a media interaction.
“We respect fans but we focus on the sport and what is required. I focus on the controllables, fans have every right and I respect their opinion,” he replied when asked about the fans’ outrage at Rohit’s removal.
The star all-rounder will be making his comeback to top-level cricket with the IPL, having undergone a lengthy rehabilitation for the ankle injury he suffered in the ODI World Cup at home in October.
“I have no issues with my body, I plan to play all the games. In IPL, I have not missed many games anyway. Technically, I was out for three months. It was a freak injury and it had nothing to do with my earlier injuries. I tried to stop the ball and ended up getting injured,” said Pandya.
(With PTI inputs)
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