Hardik Pandya Retains Captaincy as Mumbai Indians Prepare for IPL 2025

Despite a challenging IPL 2024 season, the Mumbai Indians (MI) have announced that Hardik Pandya will continue as captain for the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. The team finished at the bottom of the table for only the second time in their 17-year history, but management remains confident in Pandya's leadership.

In a statement released Thursday, MI revealed that they had successfully retained key players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Varma, alongside Pandya, ahead of the auction. The retention of these players for a total of INR 75 crore is seen as a significant achievement, leaving MI with INR 45 crore to further strengthen their squad.

Bumrah, retained for INR 18 crore, became MI's highest retention this season. Hardik and Suryakumar were both retained at INR 16.35 crore, while Rohit was secured for INR 16.30 crore. Tilak Varma was retained for INR 8 crore.

Reflecting on his retention, Rohit Sharma expressed his contentment, stating, "Since I have retired from the format, I think this is the perfect spot for me. The players who are representing the national team at the highest level should get the preference. That's what I believe in and I am quite happy with it."

Pandya shared his gratitude, stating, "It's been fantastic. I think I have received a lot of love back. It means the world to me. My journey started here. Everything I've achieved in my life has been part of Mumbai Indians. Playing again, every year is a special year, and this year is going to be even more special."

He emphasized the team's unity, saying, "We are five fingers but one fist. We are going to come all guns blazing. Brotherhood, friendship, and backing each other no matter what happens will be our mantra."

Pandya's performance in IPL 2024 was underwhelming, as he scored just 216 runs at a strike rate of 143 and took 11 wickets with an economy of 10.75. His captaincy faced criticism, including booing from fans at various venues.

MI owner Akash Ambani expressed his excitement about the core group, stating, "We are thrilled that the strong legacy of MI will be carried forward by Jasprit, Surya, Hardik, Rohit, and Tilak—players who have become synonymous with our team. Our commitment to playing the passionate brand of cricket that everyone expects from us remains steadfast."

In addition to retaining players, MI has announced the return of Mahela Jayawardene as head coach for IPL 2025, aiming to bounce back from last season's tenth-place finish. The franchise is looking forward to a stronger performance in the upcoming season.