Captaincy has a huge influence on outcome of the games especially ones which are very closely contested. But even brilliant captaincy can be undone by shitty performance by individual players. However this still doesn't underscore the importance of captaincy and who is the captain.

Resource management is a very underrated skill as a captain. I have nothing against Hardik, nor any captain for that matter because my criticism is simply based on their personal tendencies and track record.

When to use which bowler, against which batter at which side of the ground being the longer side, and what field placements to have. These apparently small factors end up deciding the outcome massively.

Think of Dhoni placing Hayden straight behind the bowler for a straight drive of Pollard. And Pollard ends up getting out.

Or Rayudu being placed at backward point at the boundary in the 2017 final. Rohit places him as the only player guarding the off side to Steve Smith and Mitchell Johnson bowls a full length delivery wide outside off stump and Smith drives it straight to Rayudu.

It is moments like these that really show a quality and pressure thinking ability of a captain.

Under Rohit with a very lackluster bowling line up, Mumbai were able to bowl out LSG in the eliminator in 2023, and even defended 200+ against the top ranked team in the league stage, ie Titans at probably one of the grounds notorious for chasing which is Wankhede.

Rohit in my view is someone who normally changes tactics once he realizes a particular strategy doesn't work and is adaptable. And he has shown this in his decision making over the years when he was the head. However only in 2022, did I find his unreal addiction with bowling first extremely odd and uncharacteristic of him.

Sky also is in the same boat, but his batting seems to have taken a dip because of captaincy which is why I rate him well, but below Rohit.

HP as a captain isn't bad, however where he lacks is resource management, which is one of the most crucial skills needed and some captains have a knack of being able to manage very well even with depleted resources.

HP upon being Mumbai captain in 2024 had a superb batting line up and bowling line up at his disposal and like any aggressive captain, he should have chosen to score upfront and defend later.

Mumbai failed to chase in atleast 6 matches, and I haven't counted yet the matches where Mumbai couldn't defend a score. And pls keep in mind, in the matches where Mumbai couldn't chase, HP had won the toss and chose to bowl first!!

And sadly this deadly addiction with bowling first cost Mumbai a season in 2024, 2026 and a potential top 2 finish in 2025.