Veteran all-rounder Hardik Pandya has returned to training ahead of the Indian Premier League 2024 starting on 22nd March 2024. He unleashed his attacking strokes ahead of the first match to be played against his former team Gujarat Titans played on 24th March at Ahmedabad.
He suffered an injury while catching the ball during a Group stage match against Bangladesh during the World Cup 2023 played at MCA Stadium, Pune. Pandya then missed the T20I series against South Africa and then the 5-match T20I series against Australia at home. He then the T20I series against Afghanistan at home.
Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans to winning the title in their first season in 2022. Under his captaincy, GT could not defend their title as they lost to Chennai Super Kings during last year’s edition. Mumbai Indians decided to buy him for this year’s edition and has appointed him as the captain for the 2024 edition.
Hardik made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in 2015. Since then, he has been a part of the team that won the title in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Mumbai Indians could not qualify for the playoffs stage during the 2021 edition.
🎙️🎧 ASMR | Hardik in the nets 😍#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/Y2QsDhBX6J
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 12, 2024
Hardik Pandya had a brilliant outing with both bat and ball for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022. He made a total of 487 runs from 15 matches including 4 half-centuries with the best score of 87 not out. With the ball, the star all-rounder showed his class picking up 8 wickets from 16 matches at an economy of 7.28 runs per over and best figures of 3 for 17.
He continued his superb form with the bat in the 2023 edition. Hardik scored 346 runs from 16 matches with only 2 half-centuries to his name, including the best score of 66. He could not contribute much with the ball, grabbing only 3 wickets from 16 matches at an economy of 9.12 runs per over.
Mumbai Indians bought players for IPL 2023
Hardik Pandya returned to competitive cricket during the DY Patil T20 tournament. He looked impressive during that tournament. Mumbai Indians decided to buy 8 players during the IPL auction.
South Africa’s young pace bowler Gerald Coetzee has been bought for Rs 5 Crore, Dilshan Madushanka for Rs 4.60 Crore, Shreyas Gopal for 20 Lakhs, Nuwan Thusara for Rs 4.80 Crore, Naman Dhir 20 Lakhs, Anshul Kamboj for 20 Lakhs, Mohammad Nabi for 1.5 Crore, Shivalik Sharma for Rs 20 Lakhs.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.