Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya revealed that he could have played for Lucknow Super Giants under KL Rahul in IPL 2022 if not for their head coach Ashish Nehra to convince him to play for the defending champions. Pandya has shown the potential to lead India in the limited opportunities as a captain.
Hardik Pandya has a good relationship with their head coach Ashish Nehra which helped in the success of their franchise in IPL. Speaking to Gaurav Kapur in Gujarat Titans’ podcast, the Indian all-rounder disclosed that he had offered to play for LSG under KL Rahul.
“I did get a call from the other franchise (Lucknow Super Giants) as well, which was a new franchise in IPL. Someone who I knew (KL Rahul) was leading the team. For me, it was very important, considering the stage at which I was, where I wanted to play with a person who has known me,” Hardik Pandya said.
Pandya’s reputation as captain has increased in the last year or so after he led Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in their first-ever season. He received appreciation from all over for the way he captained the team as well as led the team from the very front.
Hardik Pandya recalled his conversation with their head coach Ashish Nehra, where he wanted him on the team, and The 29-year-old, who made comeback from injury during IPL 2022, wanted someone who understands him very well to be part of the management.
“But then Ashu pa called me. At that time, the team also didn’t have permission to be part of the IPL. It was very haywire, things weren’t even settled. I was like, ‘Ashu pa if you weren’t there, I wouldn’t have even considered this because you’re saying this… I’ve always felt you are one person who has understood what I am,” Hardik said.
Hardik Pandya made a brilliant comeback and played a vital role for Gujarat Titans in leading their team to the first title, the GT skipper was brilliant in the opening season with his all-round performance for the squad, he took 8 wickets and scored 478.
That Was A Surprise For Me, I Didn’t Expect That – Hardik Pandya On Captaincy With GT
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya told that Ashish Nehra revealed to him that he would lead the team if can play for the franchise and Pandya said that he was taken by surprise when he was offered a captaincy role for Gujarat Titans in the cash-rich league.
“I told him, ‘Ashu pa, it’s very important for me to know what you’re looking at’. We had a good chat. I was like, ‘Okay let me think about it’. Moments after disconnecting the call, he dropped me a message saying ‘If you’re ready, I would like you to take the captaincy’. That was a surprise for me. I didn’t expect that,” he added.
So far, only two teams- Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians – have managed to defend their titles and win back-to-back IPL trophies. It will be interesting to see whether Gujarat Titans can replicate the historic feat achieved by this legendary team.