Mumbai: Speculation is rife about Hardik Pandya, the captain of Gujarat Titans, making a potential move back to his former team, Mumbai Indians, just two years into his tenure with Gujarat. Despite leading Gujarat to victory in their inaugural campaign, Pandya faced defeat in the final against MS Dhoni's Chennai in a nail-biting finish during his second season in 2023. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed skepticism about Pandya's possible move to Mumbai Indians if he doesn't retain the captaincy.
Aakash Chopra discussed the rumors on his YouTube channel, questioning the logic behind Pandya's potential move. He pondered whether Pandya would leave Gujarat, where he achieved success, only to join Mumbai Indians without the assurance of being named the captain. Chopra emphasized the need for clarity on the situation, stating that there must be a reason behind the rumors. The former cricketer acknowledged that the story surrounding Pandya's move was still unclear to him, but he anticipated developments in the near future. He highlighted the saying "there is no smoke without fire" and suggested that the circulating rumors indicated some substance to the speculation.
Hardik Pandya is presently sidelined due to injury, leading to his absence from the India vs Australia T20I series. The injury occurred during India's World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh, forcing Pandya to withdraw from the tournament. Aakash Chopra also speculated about Mumbai Indians contemplating the status of Jofra Archer in their squad. With the potential return of Jasprit Bumrah, Chopra suggested that Mumbai Indians might evaluate their options regarding Archer. Considering the significant financial investment of eight crores in Archer, there is a question of whether retaining him is justified. Chopra proposed that releasing Archer could offer Mumbai Indians financial flexibility by replenishing funds in the team's purse.
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