The Mumbai Indians, the five-time IPL champions, have endured a disappointing season in the ongoing IPL 2024. The star-studded team finds itself at the bottom of the points table with just 8 points and a net run rate of -0.271, becoming the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs.
This season, Mumbai Indians experimented by appointing Hardik Pandya as their skipper, a move that failed to change their fortunes. The team lost 9 out of their 13 matches played, raising questions about the futures of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya within the franchise.
With the IPL 2025 mega auctions on the horizon, speculation is rife that Mumbai Indians may enter the next season without the services of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. Their performances in the IPL 2024 have been subject to scrutiny, despite Rohit leading the Indian squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and Hardik serving as his deputy.
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag expressed his opinion, suggesting that only Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah might be retained by Mumbai Indians. He even drew a parallel between the team’s situation and a hypothetical scenario involving Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan in a single film, emphasizing the need for on-field performances.
“Tell me something. Having Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan in one film won’t guarantee a hit. Will it? You will have to perform, right? You need a good script. Similarly, all these big names will have to come together and perform on the ground. Rohit Sharma scored one century and MI lost. Where are the rest of the performances?” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.
As the IPL 2024 season draws to a close, all eyes will be on the decisions Mumbai Indians make regarding their squad for the next season, with the futures of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya hanging in the balance.
