NEW DELHI: With Hardik Pandya set to lead Mumbai Indians in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League, former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar feels Rohit Sharma will be a 'bit uncomfortable' playing under the all-rounder.
In a surprising move in December last year, the Mumbai Indians replaced a highly-successful Rohit, who led the franchise to five IPL titles, with Hardik.
Hardik returned to his former franchise MI in November from Gujarat Titans.
While the franchise made the decision keeping in mind the transition, Rohit's removal as skipper did not go well with some.
With the swagger Hardik brings alongside him, Manjrekar felt the likes of Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav playing under the swashbuckling all-rounder will be entertaining to watch.
"It's going to be tricky. Hardik Pandya is a guy who has got a bit of a swag. He will carry that into the Mumbai Indians dressing room as well. And it will a bit uncomfortable (thoda uncomfortable hoga) because Rohit Sharma might have thought, he will get one more year as captain. Suryakumar Yadav might also have something similar in his mind, that he might have been able to lead Mumbai Indians this season. But Hardik Pandya won't let that affect him. It will be entertaining," Manjrekar said in a Star Sports show.
Earlier, former India stumper Parthiv Patel also pointed out Hardik will be under tremendous pressure while leading Mumbai in the upcoming IPL but termed his appointment as captain "a well thought-out decision" by the franchise.
"There will be a lot of pressure on Hardik. It will be challenging; replacing a five-time title-winning captain and a team that is used to playing a certain way for 10 years. And, this change of guard will be challenging for Hardik and for the players who are so used to playing under Rohit Sharma," Parthiv said.
The 17th edition of the IPL begins on March 22 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings locking horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
