Rohit Sharma's Mumbai Indians Career Could End with LSG Match

Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson has hinted that the upcoming match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 could be Rohit Sharma's final game for Mumbai Indians (MI). This speculation stems from the recent appointment of Hardik Pandya as MI's new skipper, which has raised questions about Rohit's future with the franchise.

Rohit, 37, has been an integral part of Mumbai Indians, leading them to five IPL titles since taking over the captaincy in 2013. However, the change in leadership has sparked rumors that IPL 2024 could be his last season with the team.

In the current season, Rohit has been in impressive form, scoring 349 runs at a strike rate of 145.42 in 13 matches. His contributions have been significant, but the leadership change has led to increased speculation about his tenure with MI.

Speaking on Jio Cinema, Watson expressed his belief that the match against LSG could mark the end of an era for Rohit with Mumbai Indians. "This could be Rohit Sharma's last game for Mumbai Indians," Watson said. "You never know how exactly things will play out after this season, but what an incredible player he has been and a leader for the Mumbai Indians."

Watson also questioned the decision to remove Rohit from the captaincy, calling it a "wrong call." He believes that Rohit is a well-respected leader and that the change has destabilized the team. "For me personally, I think that was the wrong call," Watson said. "Because he is such a well-respected leader. It just shook up the team, knowing that they could move on next season potentially and have Hardik Pandya as captain."

Last year, MI announced that Hardik Pandya would lead the franchise in the 2024 edition of the league. Pandya, who guided the Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in its debut season, returned to Mumbai after a successful stint with the Titans.

The Mumbai-based franchise currently stands at the bottom of the IPL 2024 standings with eight points. Hardik Pandya's side has won just four games after playing 13 matches, displaying a sloppy performance in the tournament.

Tags: #RohitSharma, #MumbaiIndians, #HardikPandya, #IPL2024, #ShaneWatson