It’s not the first time Rohit Sharma is playing as only a player: Navjot Singh Sidhu

Navjot Singh Sidhu. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Ahead of IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians decided to trade in Hardik Pandya from Gujrat Titans and also appointed him as the captain of the team. He replaced Rohit Sharma at the helm of things, which came as a shock to many as the latter is one of the most successful captains in the history of the tournament. Under his leadership, Mumbai won the title in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020, but failed to win any in the last three years.

With the aim to change that, the think tank appointed Hardik as the new captain as under his leadership, Gujarat won the title in 2022 and qualified for the finals in 2023. Meanwhile, Rohit will continue as a specialist batter in the team. Speaking about the same, former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu said that it shouldn’t be a problem for the legendary batter as it is not the first time when he will play in that capacity. 

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Sidhu added that he played in an Indian team which had multiple captains and stated that Rohit too can adjust to that. 

“Rohit Sharma is playing as a player, this is not the first time. I have played in such an Indian team where there are five former captains. He was playing with me, I have played among captains like Dilip Vengsarkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri, Srikkanth, in which I have seen five captains playing together on the field. But no problem happened at that time as we all were playing for the country,” Sidhu said while talking to Star Sports.

The 60-year-old further added that the transition could have happened as it did in Chennai Super Kings where MS Dhoni handed the baton to Ruturaj Gaikwad but he added that it’s understandable why Mumbai have taken the other route.

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“MS Dhoni has also given his captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. The Mumbai franchise could also have made Pandya the captain like Ruturaj Gaikwad but no, the franchise saw that Rohit could not get the team any IPL title in three years, he made Pandya the captain. He also said that one has to work hard to become a player like Rohit,” Sidhu added.