Monday's IPL match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) saw MI score 125/9 in their 20 overs, with Hardik Pandya being the top scorer at 34 runs. RR, in response, chased down the target with ease in just 15.3 overs, winning by 6 wickets with 27 balls to spare. Player of the Match was Trent Boult of RR for his impressive bowling performance of 3/22. The match showcased notable performances from RR and was a night to forget for Hardik Pandya and his team. The match took place at Wankhede Stadium.

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MI vs RR: Manoj Tiwari believes that Rohit Sharma could be made MI captain again

Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has alluded to the likelihood of Rohit Sharma leading the Mumbai Indians once more. Under the captaincy of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, the Indian Premier League (IPL) champions have had a difficult start to the 2024 season, suffering three straight losses. Following a noteworthy trade from Gujarat, where he helped the club win the 2022 IPL and make it to the finals in 2023, Pandya became the leader of the squad. Pandya hasn't yet won as MI's captain, despite this.

Tiwary discussed MI’s difficulties this season with Cricbuzz after the team's most recent defeat over RR. In the first innings, the Rajasthan Royals held MI to a modest score of 125 for 9, but they easily chased down the mark and won with 6 wickets and 27 balls remaining. MI has lost by 6 runs and 31 runs, respectively, against GT and SRH when Pandya was captain. According to Tiwary's remarks, MI may think about naming Rohit Sharma the new captain in light of these underwhelming outcomes. Manoj Tiwari said: 

“I can feel that in this break, captaincy can be handed back to Rohit Sharma from Hardik Pandya. There's a chance. This is a very big call. What I understand is that the owners of Mumbai Indians don't hesitate in making decisions. They made the call of taking the captaincy from Rohit and giving it to Hardik Pandya despite Rohit winning five IPL titles for them,” said Tiwary.

“Changing the captain is a very big call. They have not picked up a single point this season. And the captaincy is also all over the place, it's not just bad luck and the captaincy has been very good, that's not the case. The captaincy has not been great,” Tiwary added.

Even Sehwag pitched in the debate as he said that:-

I tried to control myself. Please leave something for the next match. What Manoj has said is TRUE but it is a little early. I can only say this. Rohit also lost 5 straight matches as captain and then became champion. I think Mumbai owners will show some patience so this can wait for 2 matches more. Although this has happened before some franchies like PBKS and Chennai. CSK gave it to Ravindra Jadeja and then Dhoni took it back. Talks of taking back captaincy is a little early but it can happen after 7 matches maybe.  

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Three straight losses in the 2024 Indian Premier League and constant jeering from fans at several sites have tarnished Pandya's debut as MI captain. Pandya has seen opposition from fans everywhere he has played, including Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and even the Wankhede Stadium, home field of Mumbai.

Remarkably, former captain Rohit Sharma had to step in and ask the home crowd to stop jeering Pandya during MI's match against Rajasthan. The Mumbai-based team hopes to reverse this unsettling start and get back on the winning track as they prepare to play the Delhi Capitals on Sunday, April 7.