Hardik Pandya targeted by former Mumbai Indians scout ahead of IPL 2024 comeback
Published - 20 Mar 2024, 11:30 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 10:29 AM
Former Indian wicketkeeper batter Parthiv Patel shared a sarcastic post on Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya ahead of the India Premier League (IPL) 2024. Parthiv Patel mentioned that all players are fit and available for the upcoming season of the league.
Hardik Pandya has been sidelined from competitive cricket since October last year. The star all-rounder suffered an ankle injury during his bowling spell against Bangladesh in the 2023 ODI World Cup, leading to his withdrawal from the remainder of the tournament.
The 30-year-old rejoined the five-time IPL champions, the Mumbai Indians, before last year’s mini-auction. The right-handed batter replaced Rohit Sharma as captain, who had led MI to five titles. He faced backlash from fans on social media for assuming the new role.
Good To See Everyone Fit And Available – Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to comment on the fitness of players ahead of IPL 2024, indirectly mentioning Hardik Pandya. Parthiv’s post highlighted that Hardik prioritized staying fit for the Indian Premier League over international matches.
“So good to see everyone fit and available.. #IPL2024,” Parthiv Patel tweeted.
Hardik Pandya didn’t play any international matches after his injury. He returned to the Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2024. He confirmed his full fitness and expressed his determination to contribute to the team through his bowling in all 14 group-stage matches.
Hardik Pandya Became The Player He Is Today – Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel highlighted Rohit Sharma’s support for Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, despite their initial struggles with the franchise. Patel emphasized that Rohit’s consistent backing played a crucial role in Hardik’s development into a key player for the team.
“I think the most important thing is that he (Rohit) supports his players. The best examples of this are Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah came into the MI setup in 2014 and by 2015, his performance wasn’t great,” Parthiv told Jio Cinema on Tuesday.
“They even pondered sending him back after half the season. But Rohit Sharma believed in his ability and from 2016 onwards, his performance has been excellent,” he added.
Hardik Pandya played pivotal roles in the Mumbai Indians’ victories in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Additionally, he achieved success with the Gujarat Titans, winning the title in 2022 and finishing as runners-up in 2023. Pandya has scored 2309 runs in 123 matches at an average of 30.38 and taken 53 wickets at an economy rate of 8.8.
The Mumbai-based franchise has struggled to make an impact in the tournament. The team qualified for the playoffs only once in the last three seasons. The MI team will kick off their IPL 2024 campaign on Sunday, March 24, with a match against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
