Not Rohit Sharma! Wasim Jaffer Picks 36-Year-Old Veteran As Hardik Pandya's Successor At Mumbai Indians

Wasim Jaffer snubbed Rohit Sharma while picking Hardik Pandya's successor |Courtesy - Mumbai Indians

Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer claimed that Hardik Pandya will not captain Mumbai Indians (MI) next season amid talks of a trade deal. The cricketer-turned-coach claimed that the franchise has enough sample size to move past the star all-rounder in the leadership role, while stating they have struggled under his leadership.

While rumours over Rohit Sharma potentially leading the side have been doing the rounds, Jaffer picked ex-Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav as Hardik's successor. The ex-Indian opener stated that the 2026 T20 World Cup-winning skipper has been associated with the franchise for a long time and called it an obvious choice.

“He is a proven player and a proven performer. He has been associated with MI for many years. So, there would be nothing wrong with looking at him as an option. I also feel it would be a huge motivation for him as this IPL will be very important for him. He has reached this stage in his career, and he would be even more motivated. Perhaps the responsibility of captaincy could work well for him. So, in my opinion, it is an obvious choice to go with Surya because he is a World Cup-winning captain. I think it would be a valid decision. I'm sure Rohit Sharma won't be among their considerations because he isn't going to be their long-term future, as he won't be playing for many more years," said Jaffer in an interaction on his Youtube.

“I don't think Hardik will continue as captain. That's my feeling because we now have a fairly large sample size, with him having led the team for three seasons. He hasn't been successful, although the franchise has been successful in the past. Knowing Mumbai Indians, I think they might go in a different direction. It will be interesting to see whom they choose because there are several options within the group," Jaffer added.

Disclaimer: This article summarizes a report by Wasim Jaffer. While Times Now has verified the public data presented, the interpretations of 'intent' remain those of the creator.

Aayush Kataria is a Senior Copy Editor at Times Network with five years of experience, having started his career in the organisation. He is a key memb...