A recently surfaced video is making waves on social media, showcasing the grand reception received by the newly appointed Mumbai Indians (MI) captain, Hardik Pandya, during his visit to Reliance Industries in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The Mumbai Indians franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is under the ownership of Reliance Industries, operated through its subsidiary, Indiawin Sports.
In a surprising move last month, Mumbai Indians traded the versatile all-rounder Pandya from Gujarat Titans (GT), sparking confusion over the deal. Once the dust settled and the agreement became official, MI took the bold step of appointing Pandya as their captain for the upcoming IPL 2024 season, thereby replacing the renowned Rohit Sharma. This decision, however, stirred mixed reactions among Mumbai Indians and Rohit Sharma fans.
The viral video shows Pandya arriving in Jamnagar, receiving a grand welcome with horses and lively band music.
Notably, Pandya had previously led Gujarat Titans to victory in their inaugural IPL season in 2022. Despite finishing as runners-up in 2023, succumbing to the inspired Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Pandya’s leadership skills stood out.
The 30-year-old cricketer had a notable stint with Mumbai Indians from 2015 to 2021 before being released ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction.
During his time with MI, Pandya showcased his all-round prowess, contributing 1476 runs at an average of 27.33 and an impressive strike rate of 153.91 in 92 matches. His pace bowling also left an impact, with 42 wickets at an average of 31.26 and an economy rate of 9.06.