Rohit Sharma\u2019s unceremonious removal as MI captain in 2024 never sat down well with either the fans or experts. As MI stares at another bottom-placed finish, experts once again point out the damage that the decision did.<\/p>\n
Mumbai Indians\u2019 decision to trade Hardik Pandya into their side and award him the captaincy over Rohit Sharma has not paid dividends as the team looks destined to settle towards the bottom of the Indian Premier League table for the second time in three years.<\/p>\n
MI lost to Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday in what was their ninth defeat of the season. They are currently ninth in the 10-team table and could also finish at the bottom for the second time in last three seasons.<\/p>\n
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n
Ex-India spinner Murali Kartik and former India batter Manoj Tiwary both heavily criticised the franchise for their captaincy choice and said that the decision completely broke the dressing room. Tiwary went even further and suggested that MI should bring back Rohit as the captain and give him the respect he deserves.<\/p>\n
Kartik, Tiwary slam MI management<\/p>\n
MI had to release Speaking on Cricbuzz, Kartik said that since Hardik was given captaincy over retained team members, that created fissures in the team.<\/p>\n \u201cYou brought in someone who had gone elsewhere. You hadn\u2019t retained him… The problem is where you brought him from and how it made the others feel inside the dressing room. That matters a lot,\u201d said Kartik.<\/p>\n Has replacing Rohit with Hardik hurt Mumbai\u2753\ud83d\udc40 @kartikmurali<\/a> & @tiwarymanoj<\/a> discuss, on Cricbuzz Live Hindi #IPL2026<\/a> @GoogleIndia<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6f4dBqjyER<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) May 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSuryakumar Yadav must have also felt that \u2018I am the captain of India but not of Mumbai Indians.\u2019 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the biggest thing: everyone else was retained, but Hardik wasn\u2019t. So you had already lost the dressing room from the beginning. This is my opinion because I observe dressing room dynamics closely. It\u2019s not about the players not trying. Ultimately, everyone plays for their pride, but when the jigsaw puzzle doesn\u2019t fit properly, cracks remain somewhere,\u201d the former India spinner said.<\/p>\n Tiwary also agreed with Kartik and said that there is no chance that Hardik will be able to remain captain for the next season. In that case, he wants Rohit to take over as capain again.<\/p>\n \u201cRohit Sharma\u2019s legacy \u2014 you\u2019ve seen it crumbling right in front of your eyes in the last three years, and that shows in his expressions in the dugout. He knows that if he were in charge, he wouldn\u2019t have taken these decisions<\/p>\n \u201cThey will have to rebuild. I am 200% sure that next year we will see a new captain, whether it\u2019s Surya or Bumrah. If Bumrah wants it, fine, but generally, keeping in mind that Bumrah is a fast bowler and can get injured, I think they will go with Suryakumar Yadav.<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n \u201cSurya\u2019s winning percentage as captain is very good. If Rohit doesn\u2019t want to do it, that\u2019s different, but from my heart, I want them to bring Rohit back and give him that respect once again,\u201d Tiwary said.<\/p>\n First Published: Home<\/a>First Cricket<\/a>‘Rohit watching his legacy crumble’: Ex-India stars on how Pandya captaincy decision broke MI dressing roomEnd of Article
\nHardik<\/a> due to the mega auction rules ahead of the 2022 IPL. The all-rounder went to the newly-formed Gujarat Titans and won the title in his very first year before finishing runners-up the next season. Ahead of the 2024 season, MI traded Hardik back and gave him the captaincy, sacking Rohit under whom the team had won five championships.<\/p>\n
\nJasprit Bumrah must have thought<\/a> that when the whole world praises me and I can captain India, then why not Mumbai?<\/p>\n
\nMay 21, 2026, 11:33 IST<\/p>\n