IPL 2024 Auction: Mahela Jayawardene Breaks Silence On Fans' Reaction To Rohit Sharma's Removal As Captain

Mumbai Indians had garnered a lot of headlines ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. Firstly, it was the return of Hardik Pandya, after a record trade deal with Gujarat Titans, later it was the removal of Rohit Sharma by Pandya as the team’s captain.

The fans were not happy with the management’s decision and also took out their anger on social media. However, the team’s head coach Mahela Jayawardene believed whatever the fans did was fair and believed that MI needed Rohit due to his experience.

Mahela Jayawardene opens up on Rohit Sharma’s captaincy removal

Speaking to Jio Cinema, Mahela Jayawardene said, “Absolutely, it’s fair on the fans as well, everyone is emotional. We have to respect that. At the same time, as a franchise, we had to make those decisions. And having Rohit in the team to guide the next generation is very important. I think he has been absolutely brilliant. I have worked closely with Rohit, he is fabulous individual, fabulous leader.”

While the fans took out anger on the Mumbai Indians, there were also reports of a rift between the team management and Rohit Sharma. Rohit along with many big names of the team were reported to sign trade deals with any of the big teams such as Chennai Super Kings or Delhi Capitals.

However, an MI official while speaking to Cricbuzz dismissed all the claims and stated that all the reports were fake. The official further said that the decision was taken after discussions with every key player.

The MI official said: “Rohit is not going anywhere, nor will any player. The news reports are totally fake and false. No MI player will be leaving us, nor will be traded by us. Every player was taken into confidence before the decision was made. Rohit too was informed, and he is very much part of the decision-making process.”

Mumbai Indians have been a game-changing aspect in the life of Rohit Sharma as it was the team that groomed him as a captain. Rohit has won five IPL trophies with the ‘Men in Blue and Gold’ and also has been the most successful captain of the team.

Rohit Sharma’s wonderful captaincy for Mumbai Indians also opened the gateway for him to lead the Indian cricket team. Rohit led the ‘Men in Blue’ to the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup. The right-handed opener will be willing to end India’s ICC title drought in the next year’s T20 World Cup.

Rohit Sharma displayed some brilliant batting performance in the recently concluded 2023 ODI World Cup. Rohit was among the top run scorers. Rohit played attacking cricket throughout the competition and slammed a century against Afghanistan.

Rohit Sharma now will be entering the cricket field in the two-match Test series against South Africa starting on December 26. Rohit will want to win the series and help India register important World Test Championship 2023-25 points.

The Indian team has reached the final of both the World Test Championship but has lost to New Zealand and Australia.