As the Mumbai Indians (MI) embark on their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign, a significant leadership change has occurred with Hardik Pandya taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma. While the impact of this transition remains to be seen, middle-order batter Tilak Varma believes the team’s core values remain intact.
Varma, who has played under both Sharma and Pandya, emphasized the continuity in the team’s approach. “Rohit has always been there for us, and Hardik bhai has also been there for us,” he said. “It’s been the same, just following the basics. Strategy-wise, everything is going well.”
Varma’s experience playing under Pandya for India has given him confidence in the new captain’s leadership abilities. “I debuted under him when I played for India, so it’s going well,” he said. “Hardik is the captain, but Rohit is always there for Hardik and the team. We gel well together.”
Despite the captaincy change, Varma believes Sharma’s presence remains influential. “Rohit is always there for Hardik and the team,” he said. “We gel well together as a team.”
Varma also acknowledged his own increased responsibility within the team following his India debut. “Last year was a good season, but now, as a senior player and having played for India, I have a slightly bigger responsibility to play mature innings,” he said. “I always want to finish games, and I have good knowledge and experience of it when playing for India, so I am looking forward to using it now.”
As MI prepares for their opening match against the Gujarat Titans, Varma expressed optimism about the team’s prospects. “We have a good team, and we are looking forward to the season,” he said. “We have a good mix of experience and youth, and we are confident that we can do well.”
