Ahead of the start of the IPL 2024, the five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) squad indulged in some fun activities in Alibaug where the contingent traveled for team bonding exercise. However, interestingly, former MI captain Rohit Sharma was missing from the trip.
The cricketers and the support staff reached Alibaug on Tuesday, where they are expected to spend the next couple of days before returning to Mumbai. MI will play GT in their IPL 2024 opening match which will be played in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Former captain Rohit Sharma wasn't spotted even as the rest of his teammates deboarded the ferry on the dock, and was also nowhere to be seen as everyone checked into the hotel in the videos shared by the franchise and Hindustan Times.
Apart from Rohit, another notable absentee was pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Tilak Varma and Dewald Brevis were not part of the ferry ride either.
Among the prominent figures present were captain Hardik Pandya, wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan, Australia big-hitter Tim David, West Indian quick Romario Shepherd, Arjun Tendulkar, and Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi.
Coach Mark Boucher accompanied Hardik and his team, bowling coach Lasith Malinga, and batting coach Kieron Pollard. Upon arrival, the players took some rest, chilled out, and engaged in a paintball game.
Here are the videos:
Suryakumar Yadav was also absent from the festivities as he is yet to receive clearance from the NCA to join the Mi camp for the IPL 2024. He had shared a broken heart emoji on Tuesday, where reportedly he appeared in a fitness test at the NCA but failed to clear the same.