Team India's premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya shone brightly in the T20 World Cup 2024, excelling with both bat and ball and playing a crucial role in defending 16 runs in the final's last over. However, before the World Cup, IPL 2024 was a challenging season for Pandya.
His performance, along with that of his team, the Mumbai Indians (MI), came under intense scrutiny due to poor results. Fans, former players, and cricket pundits questioned his suitability as MI captain.
The decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Pandya as captain for IPL 2024 season backfired, with Pandya receiving loud boos from the crowd. Mumbai Indians finished a disappointing tenth in the IPL that season.
Will Mumbai Indians release Hardik Pandya in IPL 2025 auction?
With Hardik Pandya's captaincy of Team India in T20s being replaced by Suryakumar Yadav, who also plays for Mumbai Indians, speculation arises about Pandya's future.
If Mumbai Indians choose to release Pandya in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, which allows teams to retain three domestic players and one foreign player, several teams might target him.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): If KL Rahul and Lucknow Super Giants part ways in IPL 2025 auction, the team would lose both a captain and a key batter. In this scenario, fans can anticipate that Lucknow will aggressively pursue Hardik Pandya in the auction to fill these roles.
Rajasthan Royals (RR): While Hardik Pandya might not be considered for captaincy with Sanju Samson already in place, his addition to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) would still be a significant boost. With Ben Stokes released, RR is in need of a dynamic all-rounder.
Although RR, under Sanju Samson’s captaincy, has shown strong performances, they have yet to secure a trophy. They often start the season well but tend to falter towards the end, making Pandya's inclusion potentially pivotal.
Punjab Kings (PBKS): Shikhar Dhawan and Sam Curran, previous captains of Punjab Kings (PBKS), were unable to deliver results. With Sam Curran's release, PBKS will need both a captain and an all-rounder. Punjab Kings are expected to place multiple bids for Hardik Pandya in the IPL 2025 mega auction if the all-rounder parts ways with MI.