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Mumbai Indians (MI) had to face some difficulties in deciding their final four retentions for the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), days before the final day with a big number of prolific cricketers in their team.
The five-time champions eventually decided to release players like Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya and Ishan Kishan among others while retaining their skipper Rohit Sharma and three other players.
Hardik to be fit soon
Zaheer Khan who is a part of the MI team management explained that the retention is a tough process and it is comprised of various aspects and angles. Although, Khan is confident that Hardik will claim his full fitness and might make a comeback pretty soon.
“Absolutely (Hardik can regain his full fitness). Hardik is very keen on that. The retention calls usually take into consideration various aspects and angles. The debates are usually very long (laughs). It is not an easy process when you set yourself up for a big auction and say goodbye to all players with a heavy heart with whom you spent a lot of time and energy,” Khan was quoted while talking to TimesofIndia.com.
While talking about the lack of left-arm pacers in the national team, the 43-year-old former pacer said that that there are plenty of talents in domestic cricket and Indian team have been waiting to include a left-arm pacer in the squad for a long period of time.
Wait is a little longer
“There are plenty of good talents in the circuit. It is just about the timing. Maybe the wait is a little longer (laughs). If you have that kind of option (left-arm pace), it’s a luxury. But you need to get someone ready to play at the highest level.”
The upcoming edition of IPL will have two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad also vying for the prestigious trophy. But it has to be seen if Hardik will head to the auction pool or he will be picked by one of the two new franchises in the players' draft before the auction.
Both Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchises can choose three players each from the non-retained slot ahead of the auction.
Hardik is one of the finest all-rounders in the IPL with 1476 runs and 42 wickets in 96 matches in his IPL career.
