"Must Have Come As A Shock": Harbhajan's Massive Take On MI Captaincy Saga

Former Indian cricket team spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that the change in captaincy at Mumbai Indians would have come as a shock for Rohit Sharma. Hardik Pandya, who completed a sensational move from Gujarat Titans ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, was appointed captain and it meant the end of a ten-year tenure for Rohit. While Harbhajan pointed out that he hopes that the decision is for the "betterment" of MI going forward, the decision would have been quite sudden for Rohit.

"I hope it's for the betterment of the Mumbai Indians going forward. You know, Rohit has been a true leader and a champion player for Mumbai Indians and India as well. Knowing him, after winning so many trophies for MI and done so well at the international level, it must have come as a shock to him to suddenly not be part of the leadership group," Harbhajan said on the IPL Daily Show on Star Sports.

"I'm sure he is going to be involved in some way or the other but we have seen Rohit growing as a player and captain and winning those five trophies. That speaks volumes about his captaincy. I don't know; the management has taken the decision and I hope everyone takes it in the right spirit and Mumbai Indians plays like a champion side," the former Indian cricket team spinner added.

Harbhajan was all praise for Hardik as a captain and said that the proof of the all-rounder's leadership skills comes from the fact that led GT to the title back in 2022.

"He is someone who thrives on challenges; he has done well for GT, winning the title in the first year and runners-up the next. This goes to show that he is a leader; he is now very quiet; operates well. So I feel that he has got all the qualities of a leader," concluded the former Mumbai Indians player.