'We don't trade players': CSK issues strong response to rumours of approaching MI for Rohit Sharma

According to social media sources, there is unrest among Mumbai Indians, particularly in the aftermath of cryptic postings by Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah. These postings corresponded with the franchise's recent pronouncements regarding Hardik Pandya's leadership following his move from Gujarat Titans. Rumours circulated that major players such as Rohit Sharma, who completed a spectacular 10-year captaincy term at MI with five IPL titles, as well as Bumrah and Suryakumar, were unhappy with the shift in leadership. Some sources even suggested that Rohit, Suryakumar, or Bumrah may be traded to another team.

3 things you need to know 

• Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as the new MI captain for IPL 2024
• There were reports that many MI players were not happy with the decision to transition of the captainship 
• Rohit Sharma captained MI for over 10 years and led them to five IPL trophies

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Chennai Super Kings denied the rumours regarding trade with MI

Contrary to these rumours, the Mumbai Indians have categorically denied any internal strife. The club also denied reports that other teams, like the Chennai Super Kings, have approached them about trading Rohit. During an interview with Cricbuzz on Tuesday during the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai, Kasi Viswanathan, the CEO of Chennai Super Kings, denied these rumours. Viswanathan highlighted that CSK does not believe in trading players and does not have players fit for such trades with their fellow five-time IPL champions. He said: 

"We don't trade players as a principle and we also don't have players to trade with Mumbai Indians. We have not approached them and we don't intend to either," 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This IPL auction shouldn&#39;t distract you from the fact that Rohit Sharma is the Greatest IPL Captain.<br><br>This clip is prime example of it..!!<a href="https://t.co/JimMd2frQZ">pic.twitter.com/JimMd2frQZ</a></p>&mdash; Ninja (@Ninja_045) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ninja_045/status/1737047668671856698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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What did Mumbai Indians say about the rumours? 

In the midst of these circumstances, Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher denied claims of a schism inside the MI camp following Hardik's appointment as the new captain. The former South African international recognised the mixed feelings around this major choice. He did, however, emphasise that this stage is merely transitory in nature. Boucher said: 

"Well, we have had conversations with certain team members and the leadership within the group. I think it's purely just a transition phase. It's the game of cricket. Mumbai Indians move forward. Rohit has been fantastic for us. He's been a stalwart for Mumbai Indians, he has done really well. This is just a decision that is made by us to move forward and get into a transition phase with the new captain and it's, you know, take all the motions aside and all that type of stuff. That's simply what it is all about,"

“I have heard rumours via social media, all that type of stuff, but I'm not really into social media stuff. As far as I can say it was handled by us in the best way possible. We understand the emotions around everything, but this is purely a transitional phase for Mumbai Indians. And decisions were made by us to move forward and that's where we are at the moment.”