Home / Sports / BCCI VP Defends Hardik Pandya's Captaincy Amid Rohit Sharma Fans' Outrage
BCCI VP Defends Hardik Pandya's Captaincy Amid Rohit Sharma Fans' Outrage
23 Aug
Summary
- Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain for IPL 2024
- Rohit's fans were unhappy with the decision, but Hardik handled the situation maturely
- BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla dismissed speculations around Rohit and Virat's ODI retirement
In a recent interview, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla addressed the controversy surrounding Hardik Pandya's appointment as the new captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) for the 2024 IPL season. Shukla acknowledged that Rohit Sharma's fan base was not pleased with the decision to replace Rohit as the team's skipper.
However, Shukla praised Hardik for his mature handling of the situation, stating that he did not let the backlash affect his performance. "Rohit Sharma's fan base did not like it. But the matter is done. Neither did Rohit provoke him, and Hardik always knew this could happen and was mature. He did not let it affect him."
Shukla's comments come after Hardik's underwhelming start as MI captain in 2024, with the team finishing last on the points table. However, the BCCI official expressed confidence in Hardik's abilities, noting that the team made a strong comeback in 2025, reaching the playoffs.
Shukla also addressed the recent speculations around Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's potential retirement from the one-day format. He firmly stated that the two stalwarts are yet to retire and that there is no need to worry about their farewell just yet. "Where have they retired yet? Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will both play in one-dayers. Why are you worrying about their retirement and farewell now?"
The BCCI's stance suggests that Rohit and Virat will continue to represent India in the upcoming ODI series against Australia in October, which could potentially be their final international appearances. However, the future beyond that remains uncertain.
