Hardik Pandya thinks there will be “nothing awkward” when Rohit Sharma plays under his captaincy at Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024. Hardik replaced Team India captain Rohit at the helm following his return to the franchise late last year.
Rohit joined the Mumbai Indians base camp in Mumbai on Monday and Hardik is hoping to soon catch up with his former captain.
“We haven’t seen each other for the last couple of months. We are all professionals, and by the time the team comes together and once he comes in, we will definitely have a chat,” Hardik said during the team’s pre-season news conference on Monday.
Mumbai Indians have won five IPL titles under Rohit. Hardik tried to duck when asked if he has had a chat with Rohit.
“Yes and no to that (question),” he said, adding, “because he has been travelling and playing.”
Hardik has played under Rohit both at Mumbai Indians and the national team. He was also the vice-captain during the ODI World Cup last year.
“It won’t be any different, because he will be there to help out if I need his help,” the 30-year-old said. “He is the captain of the Indian team, which helps me because what this team has achieved, it has achieved under him.
“From now onwards, it will be about carrying forward what he has achieved, so there will be nothing awkward. I have played for 10 years under him and I know he is going to have his hand on my shoulders throughout the season.”
Hardik also spoke about the backlash from fans on social media following Rohit’s removal from the top and his elevation to the leadership role. “I don’t focus on things that I can’t control,” he said. “At the same time, we are grateful to the fans as a lot of fame and love comes from them. I respect their opinion, but at the same time, I am very excited.”
It has been a homecoming of sorts for Hardik and he is excited to be where he started his IPL journey in 2015.
“It’s been amazing coming back, coming back to where it all started and the journey is going to continue. The welcome was wonderful, very warm, very exciting. It feels wonderful, my journey started from here and I never thought that 10 years down the line, I would be leading this side. It feels very good.”
Mumbai Indians open against Hardik’s former franchise Gujarat Titans, in Ahmedabad, on March 24.
Making a comeback after getting injured in the World Cup match against Bangladesh in Pune in October, the all-rounder said he is fit to bowl.
“Yes, I will be bowling,” he said. “My injury in (the) World Cup was a freak injury. It had nothing to do with my past injuries, it had nothing to do with my fitness. When I got fit, the Afghanistan (T20I) series had just started (in January). I’ve been fit since then, but there were no games to play. In this IPL, I will be (playing as) an all-rounder and I will try to finish and win as many games as possible.”
He said that his attempts to recover in time for the knockout stages of the World Cup had aggravated the injury.
“My injury, from day one, showed that I’m going to be out of the World Cup, but playing for India has always been special, especially in a World Cup... we pushed (for) 10 days, we knew that it’s an uphill task to be fit for the World Cup semi-finals or finals,” he said. “When we pushed, I kind of triggered my injury, and the injury became a little longer.
He said Jasprit Bumrah’s availability will be of immense help after missing
last year’s IPL because of back surgery. “This year, we are fortunate that Bumrah is available and firing on all cylinders. (We’re) very excited to have him back full throttle and him guiding the youngsters in the camp.”
