Mumbai: The decision of Mumbai Indians (MI) management to name Hardik Pandya as captain for IPL 2024 in place of Rohit Sharma has not gone down well with a section of fans and followers of the five-time champion team.
Since the decision was made public on Friday, MI have lost lost 400,000 followers on social media platform X.
Mumbai failed to lift the title in the first five seasons of the world’s most popular and competitive T20 league before Rohit took over the reins from Aussie Ricky Ponting in 2013 and turned around their fortunes.
The current Team India captain led Mumbai to the IPL summit five times in 11 years as leader.
Rohit mostly led MI from the front, but had two comparatively lean seasons as opener. At 36, he is not getting any younger, but few expected that the franchise will remove him from captaincy straight after bringing back Pandya from Gujarat Titans.
Suryakumar Yadav’s tweet with a broken-heart emoji was seen as a reaction to Rohit being stripped of MI captaincy.
Netizens expressed their disappointment with various tweets and memes as they trolled MI and predicted doomsday for them.
“I’ m no longer a MI supporter after today,” expressed one fan.
I’m no longer a MI supporter after today.#RohitSharma𓃵#ShameOnMI#MumbaiIndianspic.twitter.com/HcpsLYvlv7
— Rahul Saraswat (@TheHinduRahul) December 15, 2023
“RIP MUMBAI INDIANS.. Rohit Sharma made Mumbai Indians from Chokers To 5 Time Champions,” wrote one user.
RIP MUMBAI INDIANS
Rohit Sharma made Mumbai Indians from
Chokers To 5 Time Champions pic.twitter.com/ngDsxYNjcF
— Immy|| 🇮🇳 (@TotallyImro45) December 16, 2023
“Rohit Sharma backed & supported everyone. But now he’s facing all the politics alone. Noone is there for him.💔 RIP MUMBAI INDIANS,” posted an MI follower.
Rohit Sharma backed & supported everyone. But now he’s facing all the politics alone. Noone is there for him.💔
RIP MUMBAI INDIANS pic.twitter.com/FdsvfKY3CC
— 𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝕏 (@ImHydro45) December 16, 2023
“Rohit Sharma always be our captain🙏. Nobody can replace Hitman from our heart as Mumbai Indians Captain. All the best Hardik Pandya for captaincy🥺 Rip Mumbai Indians as an one family 💔” read another post.
Rohit Sharma always be our captain🙏.
Nobody replace Hitman from our heart as Mumbai Indians Captain.
All the best Hardik Pandya for captaincy🥺
Rip Mumbai Indians as an one family 💔#RohitSharma𓃵 #Hitman #Bumrah#MumbaiIndians #HardikPandya #RohitSacked #Ambani#ShameOnMI pic.twitter.com/UKM6NxKBo9
— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) December 16, 2023
God has been very cruel to Rohit Sharma.
RIP MUMBAI INDIANS
No! Fans of #RohitSharma𓃵 never pass without liking this post #RohitSharma #ShameonMI #IPL2024 #HardikPandya #RohitSacked #Bumrah #IPLAuction #IPLAuction2024 #BCCI #ShameOnMI pic.twitter.com/IccGvWWkdJ— Vin Choudhary (@vin_dholiya) December 16, 2023
One Like is Equal to One Slap for Mumbai Indians 💔💔
RIP MUMBAI INDIANS #RohitSharma #ShameOnMI #shameonmumbaiindians #HardikPandya #MumbaiIndianspic.twitter.com/82n9oQEvIl
— Jashan (@Jashan1705) December 16, 2023
