So, there will be no Hardik Pandya in MI’s first IPL 2025 match, as the champion all-rounder will face a one-match ban due to his third offence of slow over-rate in the last IPL. According to the code of conduct, if a team commits a slow over-rate offence for the third time, the captain faces a one-match ban along with an INR 30 lakh fine. Also, the rest of the playing XI, including the impact player, will each individually be fined either INR 12 lakh or 50% of their respective match fees.
Now, in Hardik’s case, since he was the captain last year and MI committed the slow over-rate offence in their last match, he will now face the ban. So, with Pandya unavailable for their first match against Chennai Super Kings, take a look at who could captain MI in their IPL 2025 opener.
Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar could be a good option, as he is not new to captaincy, leading India’s T20I team and performing really well. Suryakumar is known for his explosive batting in the shorter format of the game, and his captaincy has also gained attention—and why not?
So far, he has captained India in 23 matches, winning 18 and losing just 4, showcasing his incredible leadership skills. As for Mumbai Indians, he has led the team in only one match, but under his captaincy, MI emerged victorious. Once again, we can expect him to take on the captaincy in Hardik Pandya’s absence.
Rohit Sharma
Now, let’s talk about another well-proven captain who is fresh from leading India to a Champions Trophy victory, Rohit Sharma. He has always been an extremely important player for MI. Yes, he is no longer the captain, but he led the team for a decade, from 2013 to 2023, and performed exceptionally well, guiding MI to five IPL titles.
His removal from the captaincy was unfortunate and Mumbai franchise received a lot of criticism, but we may see Rohit once again don the captain’s cap and lead the team against MI’s biggest rivals, Chennai Super Kings, in IPL 2025.
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