Hardik Pandya Inaugurates Mandir in Mumbai Indians Dressing Room
Ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Mumbai Indians’ newly appointed skipper Hardik Pandya has set up a mandir in the dressing room alongside coach Mark Boucher. In a brief ceremony, Pandya garlanded a portrait of a deity while Boucher performed the coconut-breaking ritual.
Pandya takes over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, who led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles. After a successful stint with Gujarat Titans, where he guided the team to the finals twice and won the championship in their inaugural season, Pandya returned to Mumbai in a high-profile trade last year.
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are the most successful IPL franchises, each with five titles. Rohit, who recently led India to the ODI World Cup final, had been captaining Mumbai Indians since 2013, when they won their first IPL trophy. Under his leadership, the team also won titles in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Pandya’s appointment as captain marks a new era for Mumbai Indians. The all-rounder is known for his aggressive style of play and leadership qualities. He will be expected to lead the team to another IPL title and continue the franchise’s legacy of success.
The gesture of setting up a mandir in the dressing room reflects the importance of spirituality and tradition in Indian cricket. It is a reminder that even in the high-stakes world of professional sports, players find solace and inspiration in their faith.
