Santner's 'skipper' greeting fuels talk of Rohit's Mumbai Indians return
A washed-out ODI in Hamilton produced a brief handshake exchange that seemed to confirm Rohit Sharma's looming reinstatement as Mumbai Indians captain.
The third ODI between India and New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton never got started, with steady rain forcing an abandonment before a single ball was bowled. What the weather could not stop was the traditional post-match handshake, and the Black Caps shared footage of one exchange in particular that has since travelled quickly across social media.
In the clip, Rohit Sharma greets his Mumbai Indians teammate Mitchell Santner with a familiar nickname, "Mitchi". The New Zealand captain answers with "Hello, skipper", and Rohit responds with a quick "Thanks, man" before the pair move on down the line. The Indian batter is left smiling at the remark.
The moment lands amid growing reports that Rohit is set to take back the Mumbai Indians captaincy for IPL 2027, with Hardik Pandya linked with a switch to Punjab Kings as the franchises work towards a possible trade before the auction. Rohit previously led the side to five IPL titles before Hardik assumed the role ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Santner's choice of words has been read by many as an early acknowledgment of his future franchise leader, though neither Mumbai Indians nor the player has confirmed anything officially.