Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has asked whether Hardik Pandya would move to the Mumbai Indians (MI) from the Gujarat Titans (GT) if he is not being given the captaincy as well. Pandya was a key player of MI and had a successful stint with them before moving to GT before the IPL 2022 auction as well. Reports suggest that he is returning to his former franchise ahead of the IPL 2024 auction.
Reflecting on this in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra added: “A rumor is doing the rounds that Hardik is moving towards Mumbai. It has been heard, no confirmation has come. If he is leaving, firstly Gujarat are releasing him – won once and reached the final once. If he is leaving, will he be made Mumbai’s captain? Why would you go if you are not being made the captain?”
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He again said: “I have not heard the end or the start of this story properly. So I am waiting and watching that what happens there because it seems like something will happen. There is no smoke without fire and there is smoke for sure that Hardik is going. However, will Rohit Sharma go to GT? Is that a possibility – I don’t know.”
However, Aakash Chopra doesn’t see the Titans appointing an overseas captain in the form of either Rashid Khan or Kane Williamson if Pandya moves to Mumbai Indians as well. He also added that the franchise would only have Shubman Gill as an Indian captaincy option in such a scenario as well. He also feels the Mumbai Indians might consider releasing Jofra Archer too.
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“I feel there will be a debate about Jofra Archer. Mumbai will think about what they should do. Do they stay with him because (Jasprit) Bumrah will become available this time? Eight crores are stuck there, so whether they should keep him or not, what is the point? You can loosen your purse by probably releasing Jofra. You get some money,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
