'If A Player Is Shown That Love..'- Ravichandran Ashwin Reacts To Hardik Pandya Ditching Gujarat Titans For Mumbai Indians

Hardik Pandya‘s sensational trade from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians has caused quite a stir in the Indian cricket fraternity. The move has not impressed many as not only the fans but several experts have also expressed their reservations over the same.

Few have also criticized Hardik Pandya for choosing money over loyalty and ditching Gujarat Titans despite being the captain of the team. And as the sensational trade continues to be the talk of the town, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has also shared his views on the same.

Unlike the critics, the India spinner backed Hardik Pandya and said that the allrounder wouldn’t have been able to say no if Mumbai had come calling. He also said that the move has highlighted how much the players like being valued by the franchise and called it a ‘milestone trade’.

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“From Hardik Pandya’s point of view, I know him a bit, won’t claim that I know him inside out. From a player’s point of view, I am saying this… if a franchise like Mumbai Indians called him and told him to return, he would value the interest shown by the franchise. It’s about valuing the player,” Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“If a player is shown that love, that affection. Or it would always have been like this. ‘You go and show what you can deliver as captain, then let’s see’. I don’t know what the conversation was. It’s a milestone trade,” he added.

Hardik Pandya’s successful stint at Gujarat Titans:

Hardik Pandya spent two seasons with Gujarat Titans and managed to make a big impact. After being released by Mumbai Indians in 2022, he was picked up by Gujarat Titans through a draft system and was appointed the captain straightaway. He made an instant impact by leading the franchise to its maiden IPL title in its very first IPL season.

Earlier this year, he led the Titans to the final once again where they lost against Chennai Super Kings. In both seasons, the Titans finished at the top of the points table in the league stage. The India allrounder scored over 800 runs and picked up 11 wickets in two seasons.