Mumbai Indians Captain Hardik Pandya performs Puja in the dressing room ahead of IPL 2024 – WATCH
Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain for IPL 2024.
Mumbai: Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya joined the camp on Monday and performed puja in the dressing room, seeking God’s blessings ahead of the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. Hardik, who spent two seasons with Gujarat Titans in 2022 and 2023, returned home in a mega all-cash trade deal as he returned to the five-time champions soon after the auctions were held in December last year. Mumbai Indians had to pay Rs 15 crores to Gujarat Titans for Pandya, who replaced Rohit Sharma as team captain.
I think I 🙏🥥#A family #MumbaiIndians @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/XBs5eJFdfS
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 11, 2024
In a video shared by Mumbai Indians, Pandya was seen setting up a mandir and placing a garland on the photo of the deity. Then Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher broke a coconut as a good luck ritual. Pandya also offered sweets to the God before hugging everyone.
Unknownly, Pandya was injured midway through the ODI World Cup against Bangladesh and did not play any form of cricket until earlier this month. The India all-rounder spent some time at the NCA for his recovery before training in Baroda for the upcoming IPL.
He announced his comeback to cricket after an injury in the DY Patil T20 Cup in Mumbai, a corporate tournament. Meanwhile, the five-time IPL champions have been shopping quite well in Dubai during the auctions. They strengthened their pace attack with the addition of South Africa’s Gerald Coetzee and Sri Lankan pace duo Dilshan Madushanka and Nuwan Alsohara.
While Madhushanka was Sri Lanka’s highest wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup, Aldushara is known as Malinga 2.0 for his swinging action. Mumbai Indians are sorted in terms of batting, with the likes of Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Rohit Sharma in the top five.
Mumbai Indians players bought in IPL 2024 auction: Gerald Coetzee (Rs. 5 crore), Dilshan Madushanka (Rs. 4.60 crore), Shreyas Gopal (Rs. 20 lakh), Nuwan Aldushara (Rs. 4.80 crore), Naman Dhir (Rs. 20 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (Rs. 4.80 crore), Naman Dhir (Rs. 20 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (Rs. 5 crore). 20 lakh), Mohammad Nabi (Rs. 1.5 crore), Shivalik Sharma (Rs. 20 lakh).
Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2024: Rohit Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, N. Tilak Varma, Tim David, Vishnu Vinod, Arjun Tendulkar, Shams Mulani, Nehal Wadhera, Jasprit Bumrah, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jason Behrendorff, Romario Shepherd, Hardik Pandya (c), Gerald Coetzee, Dilshan Madushanka, Shreyas Gopal, Nuwan Alsohara, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammad Nabi, Shivalik Sharma.