As the IPL 2025 season nears, a wave of allegations has emerged from the Mumbai Indians (MI) camp, centred around claims that Hardik Pandya may have been the victim of a conspiracy within the franchise.
Mumbai Indians, one of the most successful teams in IPL history, are undergoing a significant transition. After replacing Rohit Sharma, who led them to five IPL titles, with Hardik Pandya as captain, reports now suggest there may have been internal efforts to undermine the all-rounder during the 2024 season. Speculation has even arisen that Pandya might step down as captain before the 2025 season.
A discussion on the YouTube channel *Sportsyaari* brought these allegations to light, where it was claimed that several players, including Rohit Sharma, opposed Pandya’s promotion to captaincy. The conversation also touched on dramatic assertions that Hardik faced boos at various venues, including MI’s home ground, Wankhede Stadium, as part of a coordinated campaign to discredit him. Allegedly, negative publicity was being amplified across social media to tarnish his reputation.
However, it’s important to note that no credible media sources have officially verified these claims, particularly regarding Rohit Sharma’s alleged involvement in the supposed plot against Hardik. As of now, these allegations remain unconfirmed and should be treated as mere rumours and speculation.
If Hardik is relieved of his captaincy, Suryakumar Yadav is reportedly the top candidate to take over. There are also rumours that Rohit Sharma could be released from the team following his demotion before IPL 2024. Additionally, some reports suggest that Suryakumar might be traded back to his former team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), with KKR potentially willing to trade IPL-winning captain Shreyas Iyer in exchange. However, this information is still unconfirmed.