The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was marked by controversy over the captaincy change at Mumbai Indians (MI). The five-time champions made a bold move heading into IPL 2024 by replacing their long-serving captain, Rohit Sharma, with Hardik Pandya. Pandya was brought back from Gujarat Titans in an all-cash deal, sparking rumors of a rift between Rohit and Hardik. This alleged tension contributed to MI finishing last in the standings.
While the two appeared to reconcile during the T20 World Cup, which India won earlier this year, reports suggest that Rohit has been approached by several franchises to lead them in the next season.
However, MI’s troubles don’t end there. A report has now claimed that Suryakumar Yadav, recently appointed captain of India’s T20I team, has been approached by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to become their captain for IPL 2025. According to a YouTube video by journalist Rohit Juglan, KKR has made an unofficial offer to Suryakumar, and they are reportedly willing to trade Shreyas Iyer, who led them to the title last year, to MI in exchange for him.
This scenario could become a reality with a mega auction set to take place before the next season. However, there has been no official response from KKR regarding the video.
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Meanwhile, both Suryakumar and Iyer are representing Mumbai in the ongoing Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament. After Suryakumar confirmed his participation earlier this month, Deepak Patil, the joint secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association, confirmed Iyer’s availability for the match against Jammu and Kashmir.
“Shreyas Iyer will play for the Mumbai team in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament organized by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. He will be playing the Mumbai vs Jammu & Kashmir match to be held from August 27 in Coimbatore,” Patil announced.
The Buchi Babu Tournament, a historic event in India’s domestic cricket, provides an essential platform for both Iyer and Suryakumar to refine their skills. The BCCI had earlier encouraged Indian internationals to participate in domestic tournaments ahead of the upcoming international season, acknowledging the importance of match practice for maintaining peak performance.