Tensions rise between captain and vice-captain as India gears up for the T20 World Cup.

Team India heads into the T20 World Cup with a potential storm brewing within the leadership. Reports suggest a widening rift between captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Hardik Pandya, raising concerns about the team’s unity at a crucial juncture.

The seeds of discord were sown during the IPL when the Mumbai Indians, in a surprising move, appointed Hardik as their captain, replacing the highly successful Rohit Sharma. This decision shattered a precedent, as it was the first time an active Indian captain played under someone else in the IPL. Fan discontent with the choice was immediately apparent. Hardik faced constant booing throughout the first half of the season, further highlighting the awkwardness of the situation. His own underwhelming performance and Mumbai Indians’ dismal run in the tournament only added fuel to the fire.

Adding another layer of complexity, Mumbai Indians’ recent season under Rohit Sharma also ended in disappointment. Despite being a five-time champion, Rohit’s plans for a revival fell flat as they became the first team eliminated from the tournament. This string of losses came after three consecutive underwhelming seasons under Rohit’s leadership, leading some to question his captaincy.

Further fueling speculation of a divided camp within Mumbai Indians was a recent incident involving Rohit Sharma. During a pre-match interaction with the Kolkata Knight Riders’ assistant coach, Rohit was caught on camera discussing the importance of “building a home and culture.” Fans quickly interpreted these words as a veiled criticism of the current Mumbai Indians setup, hinting at a lack of cohesion under Hardik’s leadership. This, along with reports of a frosty interaction between Rohit and Hardik during practice, paints a concerning picture with the World Cup just around the corner.

Can India overcome these internal conflicts and emerge victorious? Only time will tell. However, the spotlight will be firmly on Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya to bridge the gap and lead the team towards a historic World Cup win. The success of India’s campaign will hinge on their ability to put aside personal differences and forge a united front. The pressure is on for both players to prioritize the national team’s goal and demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities.

According to a Dainik Jagran report, Hardik and Rohit have rarely practised together during this IPL. On the eve of the match against KKR, which MI lost, Rohit hit the nets first. There was no sign of Hardik when the Indian captain was going about his business. The report further adds that Rohit was sitting on the sidelines with Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma after finishing his batting drill but the moment Hardik walked out to have a session at the nets, the trio got up and went towards the other side of the ground.

Rohit and Hardik’s below-par show in IPL 2024

Both Rohit and Hardik have been below par in this IPL. And that has reflected on MI’s performance. One of the most successful and most followed teams in the history of IPL is staring down a bottom-place finish. With only one match to go, MI have crawled their way to eight points and found themselves at No.9. Their captain, Hardik, has had one of his worst seasons, scoring only 200 runs at an average of 18. With the ball, he has picked up 11 wickets alright but his economy rate of 10.59 has hurt MI. 

Rohit, on the other hand, has fared no better. The opener started off the season with a bang but his performance nosedived as the tournament progressed. Rohit has scored 349 runs at a strike rate of 145 this year.