"Hopefully, Hardik Pandya will be able to.."- AB de Villiers' colossal verdict on Rohit Sharma vs Hardik Pandya

Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers wants Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya to make an impact in the upcoming IPL 2024 season. AB de Villiers stated that Hardik Pandya’s return has addressed balance issues within the Mumbai Indians’ lineup.

Hardik Pandya rejoined the franchise through an all-cash trade last year. The Mumbai-based franchise traded Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore. This move helped the team save an extra overseas spot with an Indian possessing a similar skill set.

The Mumbai team management announced Hardik as captain, replacing the longstanding captain Rohit Sharma, who led the franchise to five IPL titles. The star all-rounder will face a lot of expectations, carrying the legacy of one of the most successful franchises.

Hardik Pandya Is Going To Play A Huge Role – AB de Villiers

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers expressed the significance of Hardik Pandya‘s return for the Mumbai Indians’ team balance. De Villiers emphasized Pandya’s potential to play a pivotal role in the upcoming season.

“Hardik Pandya – they needed him to come back; otherwise, the balance just didn’t look as strong. I think Hardik is going to play a huge role. Hopefully, he would be able to hold the ball in hand and be the all-rounder that Mumbai Indians need him to be,” De Villiers said.

Pandya has been out of action since the ODI World Cup 2023. The 30-year-old twisted his ankle during the league stage match against Bangladesh. However, he has resumed bowling and bowled a few overs in some recent local competitions.

Looking Forward To Watch Jasprit Bumrah Bowl – AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers praised the Mumbai Indians’ pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, eagerly anticipating his performance in the IPL 2024. Villiers emphasized Bumrah’s reliability under pressure, highlighting his ability to deliver crucial wickets for his team when it matters most.

“I am looking forward to watch him bowl. We’ve missed him in the IPL, now he’s back in full flight. We’ve watched him perform for India in the Test matches, he was simply outstanding. When the heat is on, you want Jasprit Bumrah in your team. He comes through for you 9/10 times, he makes it work, he gets the big wickets,” he added.

A significant boost for the franchise comes with Jasprit Bumrah’s return to prime form. He showcased remarkable performances during the home Test series against England. With the T20 World Cup 2024 on the horizon, Bumrah aims to maintain his stellar form.

Incredibly Good At Scouting New Players – AB de Villiers

De Villiers commended the Mumbai Indians’ scouting network’s proficiency in discovering new players like Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal, among others.

“They are incredibly good at scouting new players. And these players, some of them you’ve never heard from before — they just come in and look like they have played for 10 years. That’s always a sign of a healthy franchise.”

The five-time IPL champions reached the playoffs in the last season after missing the previous two editions. They failed to reach the final after a loss to the Gujarat Titans in qualifier 2. They will commence their IPL 2024 season on March 24 against the Gujarat Titans.

Also read: Hardik Pandya doesn’t deserve any credit for Gujarat Titans’s accolades claims Aakash Chopra