Head coach Ashish Nehra of the Gujarat Titans (GT) claimed that Hardik Pandya indicated a desire to return to the Mumbai Indians (MI), prompting the team to trade the all-rounder.
The IPL world was flipped upside down when Hardik was moved to his previous team in an all-cash transaction. The great all-rounder began his IPL career with MI and played with the organization from 2015 to 2021, winning four trophies throughout that time.
Nehra revealed to JioCinema following the IPL 2024 auction that replacing a player of Hardik’s quality is practically impossible, but he wanted the Gujarat-born cricketer to be pleased.
“Hardik Pandya has not gone back to a team that has caused a huge surprise,” Ashish Nehra said. “He played for that team for so many years, he showed his desire to go back there. Our management’s nature is such that, we think if a player wants to go there, right.
“He should be happy and that’s why he has gone there again. Replacing someone like Hardik Pandya is difficult, but we tried our best.”
Ashish Nehra
Hardik Pandya had amazing success with GT, captaining the team to victory in their inaugural IPL season in 2022.
The side just missed retaining their championship under his guidance, losing a last-ball thriller in the grand finals against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) this year.
“It will be difficult to make up for somebody like Hardik” – Ashish Nehra
Ashish Nehra acknowledged the difficulties of replacing an all-rounder like Hardik Pandya, but he was pleased with GT’s purchases in the 2024 IPL auction.
The franchise added the talented Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai for just 50 lakh and bolstered their middle-order batting with the Shahrukh Khan acquisition for 7.40 crore.
“Having the size of 25 members is a luxury. We got a great all-rounder like Omarzai, we also got Shahrukh Khan. But it will be difficult to make up for somebody like Hardik who has that much talent and that much experience. It is what it is. With the resources we have, we will try and do our best.”
Ashish Nehra
Ashish Nehra added:
“I don’t think you can find a replacement for somebody like Hardik Pandya that easily. Here you are talking about all-rounder, Shahrukh Khan is a pure batter. We wanted one more batter to back up. You have to remember that IPL has a squad of 25. You have the option to look for backups.”
Ashish Nehra
The Gujarat Titans have added Umesh Yadav (5.80 crore), Kartik Tyagi (60 lakh), and Spencer Johnson (10 crore) to their fast bowling squad.
Following the Hardik Pandya transfer, the franchise named Shubman Gill as their captain for the next season.