Watch: Hardik Pandya's gesture after reuniting with successor Shubman Gill ahead of IPL 2024

Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill are the captains of Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans respectively. While Hardik led Gujarat in IPL 2022 and 2023, he switched over to his “home” Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024.

Shubman Gill, who had a stellar IPL 2023 when he scored 890 runs in 17 matches last year, is all set to replace Hardik as the skipper. The GT management named him as the captain just after the auction last year. He had a decent 2024 in international cricket so far and would like to carry that form into the IPL.

Hardik Pandya returning to Mumbai India after two successful years with Gujarat Titans surprised Indian cricket fans and fraternity. Him being named the captain of the side replacing Rohit Sharma shocked the fans even more. The move was not welcomed by the experts and the fans alike.

Meanwhile, ahead of their first game between the two sides, the captains met for the first time and were all smiles.

Hardik Pandya was grilled with questions at the pre-match press conference where he remained silent for most of it. There was a visible confusion when Mark Boucher was not allowed to answer the question on the management’s thoughts behind bringing back Hardik to Mumbai Indians.

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Watch Hardik Pandya-Shubman Gill Meet-up

GT-MI-laap ✅#AavaDe | #GTKarshe | #TATAIPL2024 pic.twitter.com/2dJbQxvXQw

— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) March 22, 2024

Hardik has remained injury-prone since the World Cup last year. He has also stayed away from the Indian team across formats and did not play any red-ball cricket as was directed by the BCCI. Mumbai’s willingness to bring back Hardik despite him being not in form is a question that has been constantly asked by cricket experts.

Former Indian cricketers Aakash Chopra and Irfan Pathan also questioned the basis on which Hardik was granted the A category in BCCI’s newly released list of centrally contracted players despite him not playing red-ball cricket since his Test retirement.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya through an Instagram post spoke about his excitement to return to the Mumbai Indians. He also said that nothing will be awkward when he teams up with Rohit Sharma who always has a hand on his shoulders

“In my 10th IPL season, grateful for the journey, for the growth, for everything that’s come my way. And to be back with a team that’s always been in my heart, Mumbai Indians,” Hardik’s caption read.

“It won’t be awkward or anything different. It will be a nice experience. I have played all my career under his captaincy. I know he is going to have a hand on my shoulder always, throughout the season,” Hardik said on Rohit.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has also raised his standards as a player with his constant international outing since the World Cup. His appointment as Gujarat Titans captain will be the first test of his leadership skills. He is being seen as someone with the potential to lead the Indian team in the future.

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