The winds of change have officially settled over the Mumbai Indians (MI), one of the IPL’s most celebrated franchises. When Hardik Pandya took on the role of captain for IPL 2024, he was stepping into some of the biggest shoes in IPL history – those of Rohit Sharma, the man who led MI to a record five titles.
Rohit’s legacy as one of the most successful captains, not just for MI but in the entire IPL, has left an undeniable mark. His years in blue made him synonymous with the franchise. Now, the question stands – can Hardik bring MI back to its glory?
After a challenging IPL 2024 season where MI finished at the bottom of the table, the franchise didn’t let the results shake its belief in Hardik. Despite the disappointing finish, Hardik will continue to lead MI in 2025.
The Legacy of Rohit Sharma
Rohit led MI across 163 matches, achieving 91 wins, 68 losses, and a few ties here and there. It’s a legacy that reads like a captain’s dream, and Hardik has acknowledged the weight of this legacy. The five IPL finals MI won under Rohit – in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 – have etched MI into IPL history.
For Rohit, the 2024 season marked a new phase as he took a step back, becoming MI’s fourth retention in the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction.
He openly expressed his satisfaction with this transition, explaining that it’s time for those representing India internationally to step into the leadership. His legacy will continue to inspire, but it’s Hardik’s turn now to write his own chapter.
Key Retentions and Strategy
In addition to retaining Hardik, MI held onto Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Varma. Bumrah was MI’s highest-paid retention at INR 18 crore, followed by Hardik and Suryakumar at INR 16.35 crore each, while Rohit was retained for INR 16.3 crore, and Tilak for INR 8 crore. MI has retained this core group for a total of INR 75 crore, leaving INR 45 crore for further squad building in the 2025 mega auction.
Despite his history with MI, Hardik’s 2024 season wasn’t easy. Replacing Rohit and adapting to the pressures of captaincy saw Hardik receive mixed responses from fans, with boos at some venues, including MI’s home ground, Wankhede Stadium. Hardik’s performance included 216 runs at a strike rate of 143 and 11 wickets at an economy rate of 10.75.
For the 2025 season, MI has also rehired Mahela Jayawardene as head coach, hoping to reset the team’s strategy and focus. Hardik has stated his determination to lead MI to a comeback in 2025, calling on the team’s “brotherhood” to rally together as they work toward reclaiming their reputation in the IPL.
