In what has been a turbulent season so far for the Mumbai Indians, emotions are running high both on and off the field. The franchise’s decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya as captain ahead of the IPL 2024 season sparked considerable backlash from fans, and the ripple effects are still being felt midway through IPL 2025.A passionate moment unfolded recently when a die-hard fan of Rohit Sharma intercepted MI owner Nita Ambani during her visit to the Shirdi shrine. As she was leaving, the fan folded his hands and made an emotional plea: "Rohit Sharma ko captain banao (Make Rohit Sharma the captain)." In response, Nita Ambani smiled and simply said, “Baba ki marzi (Leave it to God),” a statement that has since gone viral among cricket fans on social media. Rohit Sharma, widely regarded as one of the greatest captains in IPL history, led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles — a record he shares with MS Dhoni. However, his legacy took an unexpected turn when he stepped down from captaincy ahead of the 2024 season, making way for Hardik Pandya, who returned to MI after a stint with Gujarat Titans.
The transition has been far from smooth. After finishing at the bottom of the table in IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians have continued to struggle this season. With just two wins from six matches, MI currently sit seventh on the points table. Their campaign began with back-to-back defeats against Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings. A brief resurgence came with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede, but the joy was short-lived. Consecutive losses followed, including a painful defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru — their first win at the Wankhede in 10 years. A recent win against Delhi Capitals in Delhi has brought some relief, but the team’s inconsistency remains a major concern. Individually, Rohit Sharma himself has not been in great touch this season.
In five matches, he has managed to score just 56 runs at an average of 11.20, failing to cross the 20-run mark in any innings. Since 2023, his IPL average has dipped to 24.39 — the second lowest for an opener with a minimum of 25 innings — further clouding discussions about a potential return to captaincy. Despite the disappointing run, Mumbai Indians’ management continues to back Hardik Pandya as captain. Yet, the fans’ loyalty to Rohit Sharma remains unshaken, with many still chanting his name in the stands and demanding his reinstatement as leader.As the tournament reaches its halfway mark, all eyes will be on Mumbai Indians to see if they can turn their campaign around — and whether divine intervention, as hinted by Nita Ambani’s “Baba ki marzi,” will guide the team back to glory under the legacy of Rohit Sharma.
