A video of new Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya enjoying a big welcome during a visit to Reliance Industries in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has gone popular on social media. Reliance Industries owns the Mumbai Indians franchise in the Indian Premier League through its 100 percent subsidiary Indiawin Sports.
The Mumbai Indians acquired all-rounder Pandya from the Gujarat Titans last month, causing some consternation. However, once everything was finalized, MI selected the player as their captain for the IPL 2024 season, replacing Rohit Sharma, a decision that enraged many Mumbai and Rohit supporters.
Hardik Pandya’s magnificent welcome video has become popular on social media
A video has gone viral on social media showing Pandya being greeted with horses and band music upon his arrival in Jamnagar. The footage is from December 19, according to X user Kirpal Sinh, who submitted the popular clip.
In 2022, Pandya guided Gujarat Titans to triumph in their inaugural IPL season. In 2023, they finished second against an inspired Chennai Super Kings in a riveting final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Will Hardik Pandya play in the IPL 2024?
Even though the Mumbai Indians have picked Pandya as their captain for the IPL 2024 season, there have been conflicting rumors concerning his availability for the forthcoming T20 competition.
According to PTI, Pandya would likely miss the Afghanistan T20I series at home in January, as well as the IPL 2024. On the condition of anonymity, a BCCI source told PTI:
“Hardik’s fitness condition has not been updated, and it remains to be seen whether he will be available before the end of the IPL. Indian batters encountered similar conditions in Johannesburg during the 2018 trip.”
According to a report in the Times of India, Pandya has healed from his ankle injury and will play in the series against Afghanistan as well as the IPL 2024.
The all-rounder was last seen in action against Bangladesh in the 2023 World Cup league match in Pune. During the game, he hurt himself while attempting to stop a ball in the follow-through.