Mumbai Indians might use Hardik Pandya like MS Dhoni utilized Matheesha Pathirana - Sunil Gavaskar

India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar feels that Mumbai Indians will use Hardik Pandya in IPL 2024 like MS Dhoni used Matheesha Pathirana last season. Hardik Pandya has been picked by Mumbai Indians into their squad ahead of IPL 2024.

Mumbai Indians picked Hardik Pandya ahead of IPL 2024 auction through a trade with Gujarat Titans (GT). Pandya was picked for an all-cash deal. Pandya, who led Gujarat Titans last season, was later appointed as MI skipper replacing Rohit Sharma.

To capture Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians also parted ways with Australia all-rounder Cameron Green. He was traded to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to generate enough funds to get Pandya from Gujarat Titans.

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Mumbai Indians might use Hardik Pandya like MS Dhoni used Matheesha Pathirana: Sunil Gavaskar

Speaking on Star Sports, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar said that Mumbai Indians might use Hardik Pandya in the death overs like MS Dhoni used Matheesha Pathirana in the death overs last season.

“Like MS Dhoni used Matheesha Pathirana in the death overs last year, Mumbai Indians might use Hardik Pandya in the same way in the death overs. Pandya can also bowl 2-3 overs for the team, he can even bowl 4 overs. So Mumbai Indians have many options in the bowling department”, the 74-year-old said.

Matheesha Pathirana became a big reason for CSK’s success in IPL 2023. He clinched 19 wickets across 12 matches and bowled many economy and wicket-taking spells in death overs. Led by MS Dhoni, CSK won the trophy last year after crushing Gujarat Titans in the final.

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Jasprit Bumrah’s return is the biggest thing for Mumbai Indians: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar also added that Jasprit Bumrah’s return is the biggest thing for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024.

“Jasprit Bumrah’s return is the biggest thing for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024. He didn’t play last season. When he returns in this year, he will try to show that MI missed him a lot last season. I feel Gerald Coetzee will support Jasprit Bumrah as a right-arm pacer”.

“For left-armers, Mumbai Indians has two options Jason Behrendorff and Dilshan Madushanka. I also think they will used Nuwan Thusara, who imitates Lasith Malinga in his bowling action”, the cricketer-turned-commentator further said.

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Bumrah missed IPL 2023 due to back surgery

Bumrah did not play last season as he was recovering from a back injury. The MI pacer missed the field for almost 11 months before his return in August 2023. During his absence, the right-arm pacer missed key tournaments like Asia Cup 2022, ICC T20 World Cup 2022, and IPL 2023.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans have named Shubman Gill as their new skipper for IPL 2024 after Hardik Pandya’s ouster. While many MI fans celebrated Pandya’s return to the squad, they later objected to Rohit Sharma’s ouster as the captain. Pandya is currently out of action due to an ankle issue, which he faced during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.