Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was making all the headlines as he was the centrepiece of the biggest trade in Indian Premier League history. Pandya was traded from Gujarat Titans to the Mumbai Indians in an all-cash deal after two successful seasons. As the Gujarat-based franchise joined IPL in 2022, Pandya was named their captain after being picked in the expansion draft.
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But after one title and two final appearances, the Indian all-rounder was moved to his former team. With Hardik Pandya returning to the Mumbai Indians, the speculation around the team suggests that the all-rounder could captain the five-time champions sooner rather than later.
Here in this article, we will look at why Hardik Pandya should captain Mumbai Indians.
Rohit Sharma’s perfect successor
At 36 years old, Rohit Sharma is nearing the end of his illustrious cricketing career and hence, Hardik Pandya (30) can be the Hitman’s perfect successor. Pandya developed into a dominant force in Sharma’s captaincy as the all-rounder was put in difficult situations. With these learnings, Pandya can help develop the likes of Tilak Varma and Dewald Brevis in the coming years.
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Captaincy Experience
Over the last few years, Hardik Pandya has emerged as a possible full-time captain of the Indian team. Similarly, Pandya had two incredible seasons as the Gujarat Titans captain in the IPL where the Ahmedabad-based franchise won the tournament in its debut season and also reached the final next year. Further, in these two seasons, Pandya has shown tactical astuteness, self-belief and the ability to trust his team, which makes him a great leader.
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Familiarity with the MI ecosystem
Hardik Pandya has been one of the first players to emerge out of the often-praised, Mumbai Indians scouting system. Similarly, Pandya also was part of four-title-winning MI teams between 2015 and 2020. Hence with this experience, Pandya is well-versed in the inner workings of Mumbai Indians, allowing him to seamlessly take control from Rohit Sharm and ensure the smooth sailing of the team.
