Image Source: Agencies

Mahela Jayawardene, Mumbai Indians' Worldwide Head of Cricket, conceded that supplanting Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya as the group's chief was a difficult choice yet named it a vital call considering future.

Pandya's re-visitation of MI as chief had evoked sharp reactions from the group's fan base, however Jayawardene stated that Rohit will stay an essential piece of the side.

"It was a difficult choice. It was close to home, frankly. It's fair on the fans too (to respond). I think everybody is close to home and we need to regard that also. And yet, as an establishment, you need to go with those choices," Jayawardene told JIO Film.

The previous Sri Lanka chief said the choice was made after significant discussions.

"The inheritance is something we need to expand on and ensure we continue to battle for those wins, those prizes. That is the center going for it.

"Most likely, everybody in their eyes will think it is too early, however it is a choice we needed to make eventually," Jayawardene said.

Jayawardene said Pandya fitted very much into Mumbai's administration climate.

"Hardik (Pandya) has been in the changing area for a long while, so that is the same old thing. We understand what he gets as an all-rounder," he said.

"It will be something else with his experience of driving the group at Gujarat, thus, it is a chance to expand on that."

In any case, Jayawardene expressed depriving of captaincy won't meaningfully affect Rohit's position in the MI foundation.

"Having Rohit in the group, here and there the field to direct the cutting edge is vital as far as we're concerned. He has been totally splendid. I have worked intimately with him. I'm certain he will be essential for the inheritance who will direct that through."

Jayawardene refered to the case of Sachin Tendulkar, who offered MI captaincy to play as a senior hitter and guide the more youthful players of the side to approve his point.

"Sachin played with the young people. He gave the administration to another person and ensured Mumbai Indians was heading down the correct path. It's exactly the same thing.

We had this discussion and everybody is getting involved with that. It's for us to anticipate the following season," he added.