Tom Moody gives his opinion on the captaincy saga at MI, suggesting that Rohit may replace Hardik as captain after seven games

Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody has dismissed the possibility of Mumbai Indians reinstating Rohit Sharma as captain. He stated that their decision to appoint Hardik Pandya seems to be part of a long-term plan.

Mumbai Indians have no reason to be in a state of panic after Saturday's defeat at the hands of Gujarat Titans in their Indian Premier League 2024 opener. Moody expressed confidence in the new captain gaining command as the season progressed. The former coach, who won the IPL twice, emphasized that Hardik Pandya must immediately earn the respect of Mumbai's talented roster.

Speaking in the Star Sports press room, Moody commented:

“I will be very startled if the captaincy changes suddenly after only five or eight games into the season, as that would demonstrate a lack of long-term vision. Despite the controversy and shock surrounding Hardik Pandya’s promotion to the captaincy role, especially for MI fans, I believe this decision reflects the franchise’s commitment to Pandya as a long-term leadership choice.”

Hardik Pandya's return to Mumbai Indians ended in disappointment as the five-time champions lost a winnable match in Ahmedabad. Booed by the crowd and struggling with his bowling, the newly-appointed captain endured a difficult night.

Mumbai Indians were chasing a target of 169 runs and required 43 runs from the final 5 overs. However, they suffered a catastrophic collapse, losing their last 5 wickets for just 20 runs and falling 6 runs short of the target. Hardik Pandya, who came in to bat at No.7, briefly threatened to snatch victory from Gujarat Titans in the final over. With 19 runs needed, Hardik hit the first two balls for six and four. But Umesh Yadav held his nerve and dismissed Hardik on the next ball, sealing a dramatic win for Gujarat.