1. Mumbai Indians lost 400,000 Twitter followers within an hour of announcing Hardik Pandya as the new IPL 2024 captain.
2. The announcement on December 15 marked a major shift from Rohit Sharma, who led the team to five IPL titles.
3. Pandya’s captaincy follows his successful stint with Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022, where he led them to victory.
Mumbai, Dec 16: Mumbai Indians faced a surprising setback on social media as they lost a substantial 400,000 followers on Twitter within just one hour of announcing Hardik Pandya as their new captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.
The announcement, made on December 15, marked a significant shift as Pandya took over the captaincy from the legendary Rohit Sharma, who had led the team since 2013 and secured an impressive five IPL titles.
Rohit Sharma, known for his captaincy prowess, had been an integral part of Mumbai Indians’ success over the years.
However, with Pandya stepping into the leadership role, the team aimed to focus on legacy building and future readiness.
Mahela Jayawardene, the Global Head of Performance for Mumbai Indians, highlighted the franchise’s philosophy of maintaining a balance between immediate success and strengthening the team for the future.
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The decision to appoint Hardik Pandya as captain came after his successful stint with the Gujarat Titans, where he led the team to victory in their debut season of IPL 2022.
Pandya’s all-round performance, including picking up crucial wickets and contributing with the bat, played a pivotal role in Gujarat Titans’ triumph against Rajasthan Royals in the final. Despite losing to MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2023 final, Pandya’s leadership skills were evident as he guided the team to a thrilling last-ball encounter.
Rohit Sharma, taking a break from T20Is since the 2022 T20 World Cup, decided not to lead Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024. His return to competitive cricket is anticipated during the upcoming 2-match Test series against South Africa, scheduled to begin on December 26.
While Mumbai Indians’ announcement of a change in captaincy stirred excitement among some fans, the significant drop in Twitter followers indicated a mixed reaction to the decision.
The social media response showcased the passionate and diverse opinions of cricket enthusiasts, setting the stage for an intriguing IPL 2024 season under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy.
