Hardik Pandya received a call from LSG and was eager to play with KL Rahul.

Hardik Pandya, the captain of the Gujarat Titans, made a startling admission when he said that he was almost certain to sign with KL Rahul’s Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022. Notably, the captain led the team to victory by winning the coveted title in their first season after signing with Gujarat for the staggering sum of INR 15 crore.

Another team, the colorful KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants, also made their debut in 2022. There is no denying the strong bond Rahul and Hardik have, both on and off the field. On that point, the GT captain revealed that he was ‘eager’ to play with KL Rahul and was on the verge of joining LSG.

“I did receive a call from the Lucknow Super Giants, a brand-new IPL franchise, as well. KL Rahul, a person I knew, was in charge of the group. Since I was at a point where I really wanted to play with someone who knew me, it was crucial for me, Hardik stated on the Gujarat Titans podcast.

“I’ve always noticed that those who are familiar with me view me from a different angle than those who have never encountered or come near me. I was eager to join that side when I had the chance to work with someone I knew, he continued.

Hardik Pandya explains how Ashish Nehra’s phone call inspired him to join GT.

Given that he led Gujarat to victory in their inaugural season, which turned out to be rather special for the franchise as well, Hardik’s decision to join Gujarat proved to be a blessing for him. He added that the phone call from former Indian bowler Ashish Nehra changed his mind about joining the Gujarat-based team.

Then, though, Ashu’s (Ashish Nehra) father called. The team was not eligible to participate in the IPL at the time. It was completely out of control; nothing was even settled. ‘I’m going to be the coach,’ he declared. I will be the coach, although it isn’t set yet. When Hardik said, “I always felt that you are the one person who has truly understood who I am, I was like, ‘Ashu pa, if you weren’t there, I wouldn’t have even considered this.'” Hardik continued.