In the IPL 2024, Hardik Pandya will be playing for the Mumbai Indians. The Mumbai Indians are keen to get the all-rounder back to the team, and they have spoken with the Gujarat Titans and the player personally. Interestingly, the 2021 release of the India international was crucial to Mumbai’s success over the previous ten years.
Pandya was later appointed captain of the Gujarat Titans, one of the two new teams joining the league the following year. Since then, Pandya has seen tremendous success. He assisted the team in reaching the IPL 2023 finals, where they lost to the Chennai Super Kings and finished in second place. Pandya won the championship in his rookie season in 2022.
Mumbai is keen to have him take over as captain after observing his growth as a leader. According to speculations, Mumbai would likely keep Rohit Sharma as captain through 2024, although Pandya might take over as captain of the five-time winners starting in 2025.
Meanwhile, News18 reports that the Gujarat Titans have asked to trade Pandya for either Jofra Archer or Rohit Sharma.
Even though there is very little chance that Rohit will leave Mumbai, if the sale goes through, Archer might wind up in Gujarat. On November 26, the trading window is scheduled to close. The Kolkata Knight Riders have hired Gautam Gambhir as their trainer, and Hardik’s return could be the team’s second tournament homecoming.
Under Pandya’s leadership, Gujarat has assembled a strong team, and in the first two years, both he and Ashish Nehra have performed quite well. As a result, there’s no need for the team to end their fruitful collaboration, especially considering Jofra Archer’s propensity for injuries. However, one of Rashid Khan or Kane Williamson is expected to assume the captaincy should Pandya depart.
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