‘What wrong has Rohit Sharma done?’ - Navjot Singh Sidhu weighs in on Mumbai Indians' captaincy change

Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu opened up on the uproar from the Mumbai Indians fans towards captain Hardik Pandya. Sidhu reckoned that the public at large is having a tough time coming to terms with the fact that a player set to lead India at a global event like T20 World Cup is not leading his IPL franchise. However, he reckoned that all the noise would stop if Mumbai Indians can get to winning ways. Notably, Hardik and co. are yet to open their account in IPL 2024, having lost three out of three games so far. 

“Nobody can digest the fact that India’s hero, India’s captain, is not the captain of our franchise. ‘What wrong has he done?’ is what fans of the franchise would be thinking. But what does he have to do? There is nothing that succeeds like success. If he had won these two matches, there wouldn’t have been any noise,” Sidhu said in a chat during Star Sports Press Room. “If the BCCI had named Rohit as captain for the T20 World Cup in October, the franchise wouldn't have chosen Hardik as captain. It’s a matter of the franchise’s respect. So, the actual issue here is timing.”

Also read: 'We just need to be more disciplined and show more courage' - Hardik Pandya reacts after Mumbai Indians' third straight loss in IPL 2024

Sidhu also reckoned that Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowling has become a tad predictable. 

“The biggest thing needed in the winning of a team is that they are not dependent on just one individual to achieve victory. We do talk about Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, but you got to saddle the right horse. The chain is as strong as the weakest link, and their weakness lies in the spin department. Their spinners are just not there, so therefore they will have to replenish that area. Like, RCB had (Wanindu) Hasaranga, who was pretty good and even before him, there was Yuzvendra Chahal. But they let them go and that has created a void in their bowling line-up. RCB haven’t been able to fill that void, which makes them predictable. Now look at (MS) Dhoni – when he comes, no one knows his plan. But when you look at RCB’s bowling, they are so predictable. They will field four fast-bowlers and don’t have a quality spinner.”

Elaborating on whether IPL 2024 will significantly influence Team India’s selection for the T20 World Cup 2024, Sidhu said: “The entire world revolves around the IPL. Playing in the IPL just before the World Cup is like participating in a mini World Cup. Stellar performance here can make you an overnight sensation. Therefore, anyone who excels in the IPL becomes a strong contender.”