Ambati Rayudu, the former India batter, expressed his excitement at the prospect of seeing Rohit Sharma donning the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) jersey in the upcoming seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Rayudu, known for his stint with CSK, voiced his support for Rohit’s potential move, highlighting the significance it could hold in IPL history. He confidently backed Rohit, who is 36 years old, to continue his IPL journey for another 5 to 6 years effortlessly.

In a surprising turn of events, Mumbai Indians announced that Rohit Sharma would not lead the team in IPL 2024, slated to commence on March 22.

MI’s leadership shuffle

The reins of captaincy were handed over to Hardik Pandya, following a historic trade deal where Hardik was traded from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians after the mini-auction in December. The franchise justified the decision by stating the need for a transition period and assured that Rohit would maintain a pivotal role in the team’s performance in the upcoming season.

This decision caused a stir among cricket enthusiasts, as Rohit Sharma has been widely credited for Mumbai Indians’ phenomenal success in the IPL. Taking over the captaincy from Ricky Ponting midway through the 2013 season, Rohit led Mumbai Indians to their maiden title victory. Since then, he has been instrumental in guiding the team to five IPL titles, making him the most successful captain in the tournament’s history.

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Rayudu shares is vision for IPL’s future

Rayudu told, “I want to see him play for CSK in the near future. He has played so long for Mumbai Indians. It would be nice if he can play for CSK and win there as well. That’s (captaincy at CSK) upon him. Rohit has earned the right to take that call. It’s his call on whether or not he wants to lead or not.”

The move to replace Rohit as captain prompted discussions about the impact it could have on Mumbai Indians’ performance and Rohit’s legacy within the franchise. Despite the change in leadership, the anticipation remains high as fans eagerly await Rohit’s future endeavors in the IPL, including the possibility of seeing him in the vibrant yellow of CSK as Rayudu envisions.