[Watch] Suresh Raina opts against holding Mumbai Indians' paddle following Rohit Sharma's removal as captain 

Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Suresh Raina decided against holding the Mumbai Indians (MI) paddle during Jio Cinema's IPL auction strategy program. That was largely out of respect to Rohit Sharma, who was recently removed as captain of the franchise, with Hardik Pandya replacing him.

The CSK legend was given a chance to hold the paddle by former MI player and scout Parthiv Patel but he passed it on. He also stated that he would have held it had Rohit still been the skipper of the franchise.

Raina's comment was followed by laughs among the panel, including the anchor.

The video of the incident has gone viral on social media since then. Have a look at the clip right below:

Raina had his fair share of moments against the Mumbai Indians during his playing days. The left-handed batter scored 824 runs in 34 innings against the five-time champions at a strike rate of 139.42.

Raina has also played alongside Rohit in the national team, with the duo having shared several memorable partnerships out in the middle.

Hardik Pandya's appointment as MI skipper over Rohit Sharma has not been well-received by the fans

The landscape of the entire IPL was shaken after MI announced the return of Hardik Pandya from the Gujarat Titans (GT). The fans were further taken aback by the franchise's decision to appoint the all-rounder as their new captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, who had been in charge for a decade.

The decision was poorly received by many. Moreover, reports suggesting that Pandya demanded the captaincy before the trade move didn't help matters.

The experts have had their say on the whole saga, while the fans have also made their voices heard through social media platforms.

Will Hardik Pandya lead MI to a record sixth title in IPL 2024? Let us know what you think.

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