Ahead of the IPL 2024 season, Hardik Pandya left the Gujarat Titans (GT) in a sensational all-cash deal to join Mumbai Indians (MI). He was also handed the captaincy by the franchise management, replacing Rohit Sharma.
This decision, however, wasn’t well received by a section of Mumbai fans, who heckled the all-rounder during the cash-rich league in different venues.
However, Hardik stayed calm and focused all this while, and went on to play an instrumental role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph last year. As a result, he didn’t only silence his detractors but also won the over the fans.
Having played the T20 World Cup 2024 as vice-captain, Hardik Pandya was one of the front-runners to take over the leadership mantle after Rohit Sharma retired from the shortest format. However, the BCCI selectors handed the T20I captaincy to Suryakumar Yadav.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra said that the upcoming IPL 2025 season pose another opportunity for Hardik to redeem himself, this time as the captain of MI.
"The biggest opportunity is for Hardik Pandya. He was almost the heir apparent to Rohit Sharma at one point. He used to be the captain wherever Rohit Sharma wasn't there. It was almost a given that he would be the white-ball captain. However, suddenly, he has gone out of the captaincy list," Chopra stated.
Hardik also played a key role in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 triumph last week, prompting Chopra to call him a 'clutch player'.
"No one is even discussing him. He is not even being made the vice-captain. The guy has performed strongly. He is a clutch player. He is the one who delivers almost every single time in clutch situations. He won the Gujarat Titans the title and took them to the final the second year," he remarked.
Mumbai Indians finished the IPL 2024 season at the bottom of the points table, and now with fans turning in Hardik's favour might help the five-time champions to produce positive results on the field.
"After that, suddenly, he is nowhere. He is not in the captaincy list. So it will be a season of slight personal redemption for him. Can he as a captain take the Mumbai Indians to their former glory? Of course, there will be acceptance this time, but I think the biggest opportunity lies with Hardik Pandya," Chopra noted.
