Hardik Pandya returned to the Mumbai Indians (MI) as their captain at IPL 2024 after two successful seasons at Gujarat Titans (GT). Many fans thought Pandya’s return would trigger better performances from a struggling MI squad, but things got worse. Pandya’s IPL 2024 season saw MI finish last among other franchises, an unacceptable position for the five-time IPL winners.
Rumours continue to intensify that Pandya could lose his captaincy before IPL 2025 begins. Let’s explore three (3) top players who could replace the embattled Pandya ahead of next season’s challenging campaign.
Rohit Sharma
Unconfirmed rumours suggest that IPL 2024 was Sharma’s last season at MI, and indications point to the ex-skipper’s displeasure at team performances. However, a massive U-turn could see Sharma return as MI skipper after helping the franchise to five IPL titles in previous seasons.
Fans love Sharma and he still has loads of performances to contribute, particularly after India’s T20I World Cup 2024 triumph. It is difficult to assess Sharma’s next move, but MI would jump at the chance to reinstate him as captain for IPL 2025.
Suryakumar Yadav
Yadav was the clear favourite to take over from Rohit Sharma as skipper before MI handed it to Pandya instead. The franchise has another opportunity to pick the talented Yadav, who now leads India’s T20I team after Sharma’s retirement from the format. Yadav already has 8 wins out of 10 games as the T20I skipper for India, a sign that bodes well if he becomes MI’s captain.
Jasprit Bumrah
Talented pacer Bumrah is another name on the list of potential replacements for Pandya. Bumrah has been a vital part of MI’s title-winning seasons in previous years and a senior member in their current squad. His credentials and performances for MI could be enough to land him the captaincy.
Who Else Could Become MI Captain in IPL 2025?
KL Rahul
Rahul had a tough IPL 2024 season at the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Things got so bad for the skipper that the franchise owner chastised Rahul publicly after a poor IPL outing. The franchise has come out to deny any chances of Rahul leaving LSG after that incident, but links still suggest a potential move.
MI would be a likely destination for Rahul if he decides to exit LSG’s books. His profile and gameplay abilities could see the Mumbai franchise spring back into the apex of T20 cricket next season.
Rishabh Pant
The current Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper continues to deny any intention of moving to another franchise before IPL 2025. However, he is continually in discussions among players likely to leave their franchise ahead of next season.
Pant endured a harrowing 2023 calendar that saw him miss out on most cricket competitions. However, the skilled batter returned to IPL 2024 with impressive performances and is now back on the radar of franchises. MI are unlikely to progress with Pandya as captain in 2025, and Pant is a likely outside candidate for this position.
How Did Hardik Pandya’s Leadership Affect MI?
Disjointed gameplay
The MI squad under Pandya’s leadership looked out-of-sorts for most matches at IPL 2024. Fans were left frustrated with repeat poor outings that saw MI succumb to numerous crushing defeats last season. Most sets of fans blamed Pandya and the MI leadership for their poor performances throughout IPL 2024.
Constant boos
Hardik Pandya didn’t receive the love he expected from MI after returning for another stint at the Mumbai-based franchise. The skilled all-rounder was a constant subject of boos throughout every game, as fans called for his immediate replacement. Fans seek Pandya out as MI captain due to the team’s poor performances throughout matches last season.
The boos obviously got to Pandya, as he had an underwhelming IPL season by his standards. His teammates also didn’t fare any better, as MI recorded humiliating defeats on multiple occasions to finish last in 2024. Analysts and fans will hope the team gets it right ahead of a challenging 2025 season.
Loss of social media followers
The removal of Rohit Sharma as MI captain led to unexpected consequences for MI’s social media profiles. Tons of fans immediately unfollowed MI after it was clear Pandya would replace Sharma as the franchise’s skipper. Their loss of followers signalled a drop in fanbases and reduced their overall support across games last season.
BONUS: Rohit Sharma to Leave MI before IPL 2025 Rumours Intensify
Some news reports claim that Sharma’s MI exit is imminent ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. These reports cite a leaked discussion between Sharma and Abhishek Nayar. The leaked chat suggests that Sharma has had his last season at MI after 2024. Many franchises in the IPL would desire to have a leader such as Sharma in their 2025 squad if these rumours are accurate.
