Yuvraj Singh shared insights on the Rohit Sharma vs Hardik Pandya captaincy debate, highlighting the challenges faced by aging players in franchise cricket.
Mumbai Indians sparked discussions as they named Hardik Pandya as captain for the 2024 IPL, concluding Rohit Sharma’s captaincy era since 2013. Despite Rohit leading MI to five IPL titles, matching MS Dhoni’s record, the franchise opted for a change, acquiring Hardik from Gujarat Titans.
READ MORE | Transition in Leadership: Hardik Pandya Named Mumbai Indians’ Skipper for IPL 2024
When speaking to the Times of India, Yuvraj Singh weighed in on the captaincy shift, acknowledging the challenges for aging players in franchises favoring youth. He emphasized the irreplaceable value of experience, drawing from his own experience. MI’s move, possibly seeking a change, comes after their last IPL title in 2020, and the captaincy debate reflects the ongoing dynamics in franchise cricket.
“In franchise cricket, it always gets tough as you get old. Every franchise is always looking to promote a young player on whom they have spent a lot, and that is only fair. I have faced this situation too. But then, there can’t be a replacement for experience. Rohit has huge experience and has delivered. But a franchise has to think long term,” Yuvraj said.
Rohit and Virat Kohli face stiff competition from emerging talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, and Shivam Dube in India’s T20I squad. Yuvraj Singh acknowledged the youth’s impressive performances but underscored the irreplaceable value of experience in the shortest format.
Despite the rise of promising youngsters, Yuvraj believes Rohit and Kohli can still contribute significantly to T20 cricket.
“A number of young players have been doing very well in T20s. Having said that, there can be no replacement for experience either,” he concluded.
Last Updated on January 15, 2024
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