Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) standout, Ambati Rayudu, has expressed his desire for Rohit Sharma to join the MS Dhoni-led Yellow Army ahead of the IPL 2025 season. Currently, all ten IPL franchises are preparing for IPL 2024, scheduled to commence on March 22 in Chennai. Ahead of the season kick-off, Rayudu conveyed his wish for Rohit to become a part of CSK, the arch-rivals of Mumbai Indians (MI), from the 2025 season onwards and achieve success with them as well. In December 2023, Rohit was replaced by Hardik Pandya as the MI captain for IPL 2024, and he will solely feature as a player in the upcoming season.
MI’s decision to replace Rohit with Hardik garnered significant attention. It remains to be seen how Rohit fits into the team under the leadership of Hardik and whether the latter can replicate his success at MI, the IPL’s joint-most successful franchise. After clinching four titles under Rohit’s leadership, Hardik moved to the Gujarat Titans (GT) and led them in 2022 and 2023, guiding them to the final in consecutive editions and securing victory in 2022.
Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to observe how Hardik manages a star-studded MI lineup in IPL 2024. Additionally, all eyes will be on Rohit, who will solely contribute as a batsman this season. Meanwhile, Rayudu, a two-time IPL champion with both MI and CSK, believes that Rohit should transition to Chennai in the future to bolster his trophy collection.
Rayudu stated, “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 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.” Rayudu also indicated that MI must have informed Rohit about the captaincy change.
Currently, there are no indications of Rohit contemplating a move from MI. The IPL 2024 season will provide clarity on how he fits into MI’s plans without the captaincy responsibility. Having won the IPL six times, five as MI captain, Rohit remains a crucial figure in their setup. However, if he feels unsettled in the dugout, he may explore opportunities elsewhere, attracting significant attention. If he eventually succeeds Dhoni as CSK captain, it would mark a significant development in the IPL and add another chapter to the MI-CSK rivalry.
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