NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan commended the remarkable legacy of Rohit Sharma as the captain of the Mumbai Indians and drew insightful comparisons to the legendary MS Dhoni‘s influential role with the Chennai Super Kings.
With the announcement of Hardik Pandya as Rohit Sharma’s successor on December 15, a new chapter unfolded for the Mumbai Indians, signifying not only a shift in leadership but also the end of an era marked by Rohit’s exceptional captaincy that propelled the team to unprecedented heights.Pathan, in a conversation with Star Sports, highlighted the parallel between Rohit’s impact on the Mumbai Indians and Dhoni’s iconic presence in the CSK.
According to him, both captains played the role of architects, contributing to their teams’ success through dedication, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to team strategies and meetings.
This comparison underscores the significant imprint that Rohit has left on the Mumbai Indians, akin to the legendary status that MS Dhoni achieved with the Chennai Super Kings.
“Rohit Sharma has a huge stature in the team. For me, Rohit Sharma’s stature in Mumbai Indians is similar to that of Dhoni’s stature in CSK. Rohit Sharma has built the team with blood and sweat as captain, he has contributed a lot, always involved in the team meetings,” Irfan said on Star Sports.

“He is an amazing captain, a bowlers’ captain. Last year, despite (Jofra) Archer’s form and (Jasprit) Bumrah not being there, Rohit still had a great IPL season as a captain,” he added.
In the annals of IPL history, Rohit and Dhoni stood shoulder to shoulder, sharing the title of the most successful captains. Rohit, who took over the captaincy midway through the 2013 season, guided Mumbai Indians to their maiden championship victory against CSK in a thrilling final.
The subsequent years of 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 witnessed Rohit’s captaincy prowess, propelling Mumbai Indians to further triumphs. However, the cricketing saga didn’t stop there.
Pathan, while acknowledging the challenges that awaited Hardik as he assumed the captaincy mantle, lent his support to the decision.
Hardik, released by the Mumbai Indians before the IPL 2022 mega auction, embarked on a new journey with the Gujarat Titans. In a captivating turn of events, he led the Titans to victory in the 2022 championship, only to face defeat against MS Dhoni’s CSK in the 2023 IPL season, finishing as runners-up.
With the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and the seasoned Rohit in the Mumbai Indians’ roster, Irfan recognized the complexity of Hardik’s task.
“Now, with SKY, Bumrah and Rohit being there, who have performed leadership roles at International level, it will be a challenge for Hardik. The result lies in management for MI and Hardik. It won’t be easy for Hardik,” Irfan said.
(With IANS Inputs)