ESPNcricinfo has learned that while MI’s top management, including Mahela Jayawardene, who recently returned as head coach, was thinking of paying equal amounts to Rohit, Bumrah, Hardik and Suryakumar, the players decided the withholding order themselves.
But the details, as well as the individual amounts, were far from finalized when Jayawardene, along with Mumbai’s top management, including owner Akash Ambani, met the players in early October to review what was a poor IPL 2024. , where the five-time champions finished. last.
The players and management met twice during this period. The idea was to talk openly about how the previous season had gone. Part of the conversations involved everyone opening up about what they felt had worked and what didn’t. The players in question were also asked to seek clarity on what they wanted before finalizing the holds.
It is understood that Suryakumar wanted to know what plans the franchise had for him in the future. Having replaced Rohit as India T20I captain after the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar is also keen to lead MI at some point. The franchise has told him that when Hardik replaced Rohit as captain ahead of the 2024 season, the plan was to see him continue in that position for at least the foreseeable future.
It is believed that the franchise asked Suryakumar if he had any conditions before the retention and also that they could not promise him anything. Suryakumar later told the franchise that he wanted to stay with MI. He is also believed to have told the franchise that he has captaincy aspirations. This was on October 4, about four weeks before the retention deadline.
It is understood that in these meetings the senior group was told that the franchise would retain Hardik as captain as it would be unfair to judge Hardik on last season’s performances where he struggled with his form with both bat and ball. and made questionable strategic decisions on the field. It was understood that if the right kind of environment was created, it would help both Hardik and Mumbai succeed. The players agreed.
Rohit, along with Hardik and Suryakumar, agreed that Bumrah deserved maximum retention and maximum price. Rohit also said that he was happy to be the fourth retainer behind Bumrah, Suryakumar and Hardik considering he had retired from the T20I format.
In the meetings it was agreed that if clarity was not given to the team’s fans about the future the franchise was heading towards, there was a danger of the team losing its support base. In one of the meetings, Suryakumar is believed to have said: “Main mahaul banaunga [I will create the atmosphere]”.
