AB de Villiers Weighs in on Rohit Sharma Potential Move to RCB: 'Bigger Than’ Hardik Pandya Return to MI

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Speculation around Indian captain Rohit Sharma's future in the IPL has been swirling since his reported axing as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) last year. Having led MI to an impressive five IPL titles since assuming captaincy in 2013, Rohit's future is now rumoured to be with another club.

Several media reports suggest that Rohit may not be retained by MI ahead of the 2025 IPL mega auction, with many former cricketers and fans eager to see him don the red and black of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Amid these rumors, former South African legend AB de Villiers shared his thoughts on the potential move during a live Q&A session on his YouTube channel. Known for his long association with RCB, De Villiers humorously remarked that such a shift would generate massive headlines.

"That will be quite a story if Rohit moves from Mumbai Indians to RCB. Wow! Imagine the headlines. It will be bigger than Hardik Pandya's move. He moved from Gujarat Titans back to Mumbai, which although wasn't a big surprise. But if Rohit moves from Mumbai to join his rivals in RCB...oh my god!" De Villiers exclaimed.

However, despite the potential excitement that such a move would generate, De Villiers expressed strong doubts about its likelihood. He emphasized that the odds of MI parting ways with Rohit are almost non-existent. "I don't think there is an option there. I don't see a possibility of MI leaving Rohit. I will give that zero or 0.1 percent chance," he added.

Rohit's tenure at MI has made him one of the league's most successful and respected captains, but the team's recent struggles, finishing last in the 2024 season, have fueled discussions about potential changes.

The appointment of Hardik Pandya as MI's captain ahead of the 2024 season stirred discontent among fans, who have been loyal to Rohit for years. Hardik's return to MI after a stint with Gujarat Titans further compounded the controversy.

As MI navigates through its leadership transition, head coach Mark Boucher revealed that discussions about Rohit's future have been minimal. Boucher stated, "To be honest, there hasn't been many conversations about Rohit's future at all... It's a big auction next season. Who knows what's going to happen?"