Hardik Pandya is set to captain five-time Indian Premier League champions Mumbai Indians in the upcoming season. He has replaced Rohit Sharma in the role. It is worth noting that Rohit-led Mumbai to the title on five occasions in the past and in IPL 2024, he will be playing under the leadership of Hardik. On any potential ego clash between the two players, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh said: “When players play together these things happen. If they have an issue they should definitely sit and talk about it.”
“Rohit has always been very instrumental in getting the best out of Hardik whenever he has played for Mumbai Indians, especially in terms of his bowling to manage his workload.
“Hardik has always been always good with the bat at death. Batting at 4 for Gujarat, he batted like a batter.”
Pandya has been missing in action since suffering an ankle injury during the Cricket World Cup 2023. He was ruled out of the world event after he got injured during the match against Bangladesh and although he has shown great recovery, he was rested for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.
Ahead of the IPL 2024 auction, Pandya completed a sensational move to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans and he was appointed the captain of the franchise for the upcoming season. The all-rounder replaced India skipper Rohit who had led Mumbai Indians in IPL for the past 10 seasons.
In 31 matches for Gujarat Titans from 2022 to 2023, Pandya scored 833 runs at an average of 37.86 and a strike rate of over 133, with six half-centuries and a best score of 87 not out. He also had 11 wickets for the team, with the best figures of 3 for 17.
Pandya also played 92 matches for MI from 2015-2021, scoring 1,476 runs at an average of 27.33 at a strike rate of over 153, with four half-centuries and best score of 91. He also took 42 wickets for the team, with the best bowling figures of 3 for 20.
Pandya has won five IPL trophies – four with MI (2015, 2017, 2019, 2020) and one with GT (2022).
(With ANI inputs)
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