A genuine all-rounder and a true blue Mumbai Indians hero, Pandya has played for the MI franchise all throughout his professional IPL career. He has been their go-to man to close the innings with some towering sixes. He is a livewire on the field and effective at breaking partnerships. However, he has had leaner 2020 and 2021 seasons with the franchise.
This is majorly due to his recurring injuries. He has stopped bowling and that has affected his utility as a cricketer. Considering the fact that Mumbai Indians have a wider talent pool to retain from, Pandya may be skipped. He could well be released from the Mumbai camp and grabbed by one of the new franchises with a high possibility of one of them being from Gujarat.
There may be questions about his fitness and form today but one can never truly write off a cricketer of Hardik Pandya’s caliber. When on the song, he can change the face of the game in a matter of balls. Opposition teams fear Pandya’s ability to finish games. His ability to take his team over the line at the far end of the innings is unmatched. With 92 IPL games under his belt, he has scored 1476 runs at an ungodly strike rate of 154. On the bowling front he has picked up 42 wickets in the 7 seasons he played thus far.
Considering the mega-auction coming up and the fact that Mumbai Indians already have some of the biggest names in the T20 circuit, Pandya may be in the need of a new home. With the addition of two new franchises, his options grow. We look at 5 options teams that will benefit from Pandya’s services.
1, Ahmedabad Franchise
Hardik Pandya is an integral part of Mumbai Indians and there is no doubt about that. However, Pandya would be one of the most sought-after talents in the next auctions due to his all-around abilities. He can be picked up by the Ahmedabad franchise as a captain. He could be their marquee player since he is already an international superstar and has represented India in all three formats. His antics on and off the field also could bring in a big number of fans.
2. Lucknow Franchise
Lucknow franchise owner in a recent interview spoke of building a strong team and developing a strong playing ethos. In T20 cricket, it has become pertinent to have strong all-rounders to balance a team and make them a winning combination. Pace bowling all-rounders are a rare commodity and it is rarer to have an established Indian superstar in that department. Hardik Pandya is a solid fit for this role.
3. Rajasthan Royals
When Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer left the team this season, the team was struggling to plug the holes. The Indian bench strength of the team was very poor and that took a toll on the franchise. With inexperienced and uncapped domestic cricketers, Rajasthan Royals could not make it to the play-offs. Hardik Pandya with his all-around capability can be an excellent fit for the franchise.
4. Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals made it to the finals last year and finished in the top 2 this year. They have cracked the code on team composition. However, it seems that they are not able to make the jump to a final and cross over the line. Hardik Pandya could be the essential factor in converting their good performances into a trophy.
5. Chennai Super Kings
If one analyses the CSK squad properly, it is filled with match-winning all-rounders. Shardul Thakur, Jaddu, Santner, and Sam Curran are all established and excellent cricketers. However, in the next auction, they may not retain all of these players or be able to buy them back. In such a case, Pandya could be a great option for the franchise to fulfill their need of an effective all-rounder.
