India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels Rohit Sharma will continue to lead Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League despite the return of Hardik Pandya to the franchise. Rohit has all the experience of leading in the IPL and has led MI to five titles, the joint highest with Chennai Super Kings’ MS Dhoni.
On the other hand, Pandya has impressed as a leader and led Gujarat Titans to glory in IPL 2022. The Titans also made it to the final of the previous season under the leadership of the all-rounder but could not cross the final hurdle against CSK.
Pandya moved back to Mumbai Indians in an all-cash trade deal and he will aim to be at his best for the franchise.
“Not really (Hardik straightforward choice to lead MI?). Rohit, the leader, has got a lot of miles to run. I think they might have a progression plan. That’s the right thing to say. They would have given clarity to both of them. Mumbai is a top franchise, like CSK. I think they would have kept the communication lines clear. They would have spoken to both Hardik and Rohit. And they will go ahead and do it. That’s an inner sanctum. We don’t know what’s going to happen,” Ashwin told former India cricketer S Badrinath on his YouTube show.
“I see both of them as hardcore, loyal players. Winning 5 titles is not a joke. If CSk win a title, Rohit is lifting the next one.
“Rohit has gone a long way. I know him since my teenage days. I am glad for the players. It’s good to see franchises valuing players. He was sold for Rs 10 lakh once, today he is a multi-million dollar player,” he added.
Ashwin noted that Pandya wouldn’t have said ‘no’ if Mumbai Indians had approached him for the trade. Earlier, GT director of cricket operations Vikram Solanki revealed that Pandya wanted to leave the franchise and join MI.
“From Hardik Pandya’s point of view, I know him a bit, won’t claim that I know him inside out. From a player’s point of view, I am saying this… if a franchise like Mumbai Indians called him and told him to return, he would value the interest shown by the franchise. it’s about valuing the player.
“If a player is shown that love, that affection. Or it would always have been like this. ‘You go and show what you can deliver as captain, then let’s see’. I don’t know what the conversation was. It’s a milestone trade,” Ashwin added.
IPL 2024 auction will be held in Dubai on December 19.
