Five-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians on Saturday named Kieron Pollard as the new head coach. Fans were overjoyed to see their former all-rounder take over the reins. After 13 years as a player, the West Indies legend retired at the end of the 2022 season. Since then, he has been with the side as the batting coach before being given the head coach’s job.

There are reports that Rohit Sharma could be given the captaincy once again heading into the new season. The veteran batter will be 40 next year. Under Rohit’s captaincy, the team has already won five IPL titles and one Champions League Trophy in 2013.

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik recently opined on Rohit’s likely second captaincy stint with Mumbai Indians.

“Look, I think MI is looking for a new captain, and it is only a matter of time before they announce it, and why not Rohit Sharna?”

“He has been their most successful leader, and it is fair to say Rohit has been the most successful captain along with MS Dhoni. So, there is no harm in going back to him. He is one of the best, and when they have his services, why not use him? Sharma has got the skills and is a good captain. The players look up to him quite naturally, so he is a tactically good choice.”

Veteran India opener is the joint most successful captain with MS Dhoniwith both having won five titles. Hardik Pandya is likely to be traded if the team finds a good option in terms of a player swap, or could be asked to be part of the side for one more season just as a player.

Harsha Bhogle has his say.

Harsha Bhogle, who was part of the same Cricbuzz show, said, “The fact that you could have a conversation tells you a lot about the person.

My only thing with Rohit is, are you willing to go back and admit that it was a mistake in the first place? Because you are going back to someone, rather than going ahead with someone.”

Bhogle also said, “With Kieron Pollard, clearly you are going ahead, and clearly he has been appointed now to look after the auction and build a completely new, fresh team, because a lot of the star players are getting older.

With Rohit, then you have to ask yourself if he is in long-term plans or a short-term fix for this year. Then it would be an admission that we tried to move, but it didn’t work.”

“My other concern is, what is the message that is going out to Jasprit Bumrah? The team wants him to play 14, 15, maybe even 17 games, or is the message that he is in a different stratosphere and should not worry about others’ things? If they are going with someone other than Bumrah, then the team needs to have a word with him (Jasprit Bumrah) and take him into confidence because he deserves that.”