Hardik Pandya's achievements in the Indian Premier League (IPL) can never be discounted. After winning four trophies with the Mumbai Indians (MI), he did it once more as the captain of the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the inaugural IPL season in 2022. However, things could have been very different for the India all-rounder, who recently opened up that he was approached by the other new entrant to the IPL — Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Pandya revealed to Gaurav Kapoor on the Gujarat Titans podcast that he came close to joining LSG instead of the eventual champions because someone he was close to was going to captain the side. "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 really wanted to play with a person who has known me," Pandya said.
"I always found that people who know me have a different perspective than people who have never come across or come close to me. When I got the opportunity to work with someone I know, I was very keen to go to that side," he added.
Pandya also revealed that only one person was able to turn his attention towards the Titans, who did not even have permission to play in the IPL yet.
"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. He said, 'I'm going to be the coach. It isn't fixed yet, but I will be coach'. 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.
"I'm simple to work with, someone who knows me, know what I am. I think he (Nehra) comes in those categories who has found the right side of me. I was completely off the grid because I took a sabbatical, and was away from the sport. I had decided not to be available for anything," he said.
Pandya was made the captain of GT soon after and he led them to glory in 2022. His ability as a captain also prompted the selection committee to choose Pandya as a T20I skipper in a few series, with rumours floating that he will become the permanent skipper.
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