Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians (MI), IPL 2021
Hardik Pandya. Image Credits: Twitter

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya will lead the Ahmedabad franchise in IPL 2022 as the franchise announced its draft signings of players and coaching staff on Saturday.

The 28-year-old was born in Choryasi, a place in the Surat district of Indian state Gujarat and the franchise wanted to synchronise itself with the identity of a local Gujarati player.

Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya (Image Credit: Twitter)

Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan roped in by Ahmedabad franchise for IPL 2022

Apart from Hardik (INR 15 crore), the Ahmedabad franchise has picked Afghanistan’s sensational spinner Rashid Khan (15 crore) and opening batter Shubman Gill (8 crore) as their three signings for IPL 2022.

The Indian all-rounder scored 1476 runs from 85 innings and claimed 42 scalps and also won four titles in his long stint with the five-time IPL champions.

Former England player Vikram Solanki, who recently quit from Surrey’s head coach role, has been appointed as Ahmedabad team’s Director of Cricket.

Hardik Pandya is very keen to get in the mix and get involved: Gary Kirsten

2011 World Cup winning coach Gary Kirsten (with the Indian team) will be serving dual roles of mentor and batting coach of the Ahmedabad outfit while former Indian pace bowler Ashish Nehra will be the head coach.

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Kirsten, who previously served as batting coach and head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), said he is looking forward to work with Hardik. The former South Africa player player also said that Hardik is keen to start his leadership role and enhance his career.

“I am looking forward to working with Hardik as a young and new captain and I think he will be really motivated to come in and show what he is capable of at this level of the game as a leader,” Kirsten was quoted as saying by Star Sports.

Gary Kirsten
Gary Kirsten coached India in the 2011 World Cup. Image-TOI

“He is a great player and he is really motivated and is very keen to get in the mix and get involved. I think he understands the importance of this tournament. What I’ve heard is that he is ready to go and get properly in the mix from a leadership perspective,” he further added. 

On January 11, the IPL Governing Council  issued the Letter of Intent (LOI) to both the new IPL franchises (Lucknow and Ahmedabad), formalising their entry into the cash-rich league.

The IPL 2022 mega auction will be conducted on February 12 and February 13 in Bengaluru.

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