Hardik Pandya Appoints New Captain for CSK Showdown, Overlooking Rohit Sharma | Cricket News

**Rohit Sharma Overlooked as Hardik Pandya Appoints His Captaincy Stand-In for CSK Match**

Due to a mandated one-match suspension for last season’s over-rate infractions, Hardik Pandya will be unavailable to lead the Mumbai Indians in their anticipated Indian Premier League opener against the Chennai Super Kings.

**PTI**

**Updated: March 19, 2025, 1:40 PM IST**

**Reading Time: 2 Minutes**

In the absence of their regular captain Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav will step into the leadership role for the Mumbai Indians as they face off against the Chennai Super Kings in this season’s IPL opener. Yadav, who currently holds the captaincy of India’s T20 national team, has recently achieved a 4-1 series victory over England at home. Despite this leadership success, his own batting form left something to be desired with just 38 runs across the series. “Surya takes the helm for India as well and is my natural successor when I’m unavailable,” shared Pandya during the team’s pre-season press conference. The Mumbai Indians’ head coach, Mahela Jayawardene, confirmed that the one-match ban on Pandya results from three slow over-rate breaches by the team the previous season.

Under Pandya’s inaugural captaincy, Mumbai finished at the bottom with four wins against ten losses in 2024, following Rohit Sharma’s tenure which saw the team secure five championship titles before his own struggles. The timeline for Jasprit Bumrah’s return to the field remains uncertain; Jayawardene acknowledged that his absence poses a significant hurdle as Bumrah continues his rehabilitation from a back injury at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. “Jasprit is currently making daily progress at the NCA, and while he remains in good spirits, missing out on his skills is a substantial challenge. His reputation as the world’s premier bowler underscores his value to the team,” Jayawardene stated during the pre-season media briefing.

Bumrah, out of action since the final Test against Australia in January, where he was unable to bowl during the second innings, is expected to rejoin his Mumbai teammates in early April to further his rehabilitation. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his exact return, current captain Pandya emphasized the psychological boost of having an experienced and invaluable player like Bumrah in the squad. “Having the support of leaders like Rohit, Surya, and Bumrah, who have all captained their teams, is a great asset. They offer valuable insights and backing whenever needed,” noted Pandya.

**Topics of Interest:**

– Mumbai Indians
– Chennai Super Kings
– Hardik Pandya
– Suryakumar Yadav
– Rohit Sharma
– IPL 2025
– Cricket

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