‘Ensure Rohit Sharma is on board with…’: Hayden pinpoints where Mumbai Indians messed up Hardik Pandya succession plan.

Matthew Hayden sent a reminder on the 2022 situation at CSK when their succession plan with Ravindra Jadeja had backfired. Mumbai Indians’ succession plan hasn’t gone according to their desire as revealed after first three matches in IPL 2024 where the five-time champions languished to the bottom of the table following a hat-trick of defeats. Not only has the results led to experts and veterans criticising Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, there have also been calls to reassess the shocking leadership decision made last December, hinting towards a Chennai Super Kings like U-turn. Giving his two cents on the matter, former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden outlined where MI erred on their plans with Hardik. In late November, the much-rumoured move was made official as Hardik ended his successful two-year stint at Gujarat Titans to return to Mumbai Indians, who had released him before the 2022 auction. Shortly after, Hardik was named the captain for the IPL 2024 season as MI ended Rohit’s 11-year tenure as the leader, during which the franchise lifted five trophies in the tournament. Mumbai fans lambasted the move then and later made their voices heard as they booed and jeered at Hardik at each of the three venues MI played in IPL 2024, including at Wankhede Stadium.