Ravichandran Ashwin suggests that Mumbai Indians’ aggressive pursuit of trading for Hardik Pandya signifies their relentless pursuit of securing their sixth Indian Premier League (IPL) title no matter what. Before joining the Gujarat Titans (GT) ahead of the 2022 season, Hardik Pandya had a longstanding connection with Mumbai Indians (MI). His move to GT proved fruitful, leading the team to win the championship in their debut IPL season in 2022, followed by a runner-up finish.
Shows how hungry they are for #6- Ravichandran Ashwin on MI
Before IPL 2024, Hardik Pandya was traded back to Mumbai Indians in an all-cash deal worth ₹15 crore. The five-time champions also appointed him as their new captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. Opening up about the trade and anticipating more such deals in the future, Ashwin shared his thoughts in his latest YouTube video,
“The Hardik Pandya ‘buy’ shows how hungry they are for #6. Many people might have opinions about why it is right or wrong, or they might have taken it too easy. I am not going into that. This is a pride project. They play to win. And they’ve gone to that extent to buy a player. And you can say so many things, but when a team pulls off such a buy, you tend to think more,” said Ravichandran Ashwin.
“Think about it: if MI got Rashid Khan from GT instead of Pandya, It is unthinkable, right? In the EPL or the rest of European football, it happens like this. If this also goes like that, some teams will have the financial strain to match up to those teams, and equality is a question mark. But nevertheless, as MI has done this, it looks pretty clear that they are going for #6,” Ashwin added.
The news of Hardik Pandya replacing Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians’ captain sparked mixed reactions among fans. Mumbai’s head coach, Mark Boucher, claimed that the decision was made considering the team’s transitional phase.
He has always been a combination player- Ravichandran Ashwin on Hardik Pandya
Ravichandran Ashwin also discussed Hardik Pandya’s performances as a player in the IPL, emphasizing his capability to contribute effectively with both bat and ball as needed. Ashwin highlighted how Pandya played a different role for Gujarat Titans during his two-year stint, focusing on batting in the middle overs rather than being the designated finisher.
He has always been a combination player, giving a few overs and scoring runs when required,” Ashwin continued. “In GT, a lot of the team’s success came from his transition as a player who plays the middle overs with intent and leaves the finishing to (Rahul) Tewatia and Rashid Khan,”
The Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians will face Gujarat Titans (GT) in their opening match of IPL 2024 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 24.
Also Read: https://goworldwide.co.in/parthiv-patel-lauds-rohit-sharmas-leadership/