Wearing Mumbai Indians’ colours is very special for me, says Pandya
MUMBAI: Back to the franchise with which he started his career in the Indian Premier League (IPL), India T20 captain Hardik Pandya is excited about returning to Mumbai Indians and said wearing the team’s colours is very special for him.
Hardik, who joined Gujarat Titans before the start of the 2022 edition and led them to the title in their first campaign, couldn’t contain his excitement about returning to Mumbai Indians for IPL 2024 as the franchise started its preparations for the upcoming season in Mumbai with head coach Mark Boucher supervising the training session.
“The feeling of wearing this colour is very special for me. The journey started here, coming back home and playing is always going to be special,” Hardik was quoted as saying by Mumbai Indians in a social media post.
Lasith Malinga also returns to the franchise as bowling coach this year. “Mali has been my brother from the start and Mark has been wonderful. We will make sure we will play a brand of cricket that everyone will be proud of and at the same time, it’s going to be a ride that no one forgets,” Hardik added.
Mark Boucher said Hardik has received a warm welcome from the team and has already gelled really well. “He certainly knows the changing room beter than what I do. It’s sort of homecoming for a couple of people. He has fited in really well and is excited for the season. We look forward to having him back and winning some games for Mumbai Indians again,” he concluded.
“At the start of each season, everyone is very excited. There are a couple of new faces around, so there’s a litle bit of nerves as well. We would like to build up to the start of the season,” Mark continued.
Mumbai Indians will start their IPL campaign on March 23 against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
SOUTH AFRICA’S NGIDI TO MISS IPL IN FRESH SETBACK FOR CAPITALS: South African pacer Lungisani Ngidi has suffered an injury and will miss the upcoming IPL with Delhi Capitals (DC) naming all-rounder Jake Fraser-mcgurk as replacement for him.
Ngidi, who has played 14 IPL matches and has 25 wickets against his name, was ruled out of the IPL 2024 due to a lower-back injury. Ngidi, who had played recently in the SA20, will not be taking part in the upcoming season and this prompted Capitals to go for Fraser-mcgurk.
Cricket South Africa in a statement released on Friday stated, “Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been released by Delhi Capitals for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 as he continues his recovery from a lower back injury.”
“The 27-year-old sustained the injury during the playoffs of the SA20 last month. Ngidi is currently being monitored by the Cricket South Africa (CSA) medical team and undergoing rehab with his provincial team, the Momentum Multiply Titans.”
“He is expected to return to play in the second half of the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge in April,” it further added.
Jake Fraser-mcgurk has played two ODIS for Australia. He joins DC for his reserve price of INR 50 Lac.
Fraser-mcgurk already represented the Dubai Capitals, DC’S franchise, in the ILT20 2024 and made a big impact during his time with the side.
As Delhi Capitals gear up for upcoming season, head coach Ricky Ponting took a moment to share his impressions following his first training session.
“What I saw today was very exciting, very promising. It’s great to be back with the Delhi Capitals family,” Ponting reflected ater the JSW and GMR co-owned franchise had its first training session on Thursday.
The Australian legend further added, “It’s just the start. We don’t expect to be practising at our absolute best right now. We’re not even so much looking forward to the first game yet. We’re geting some volume work done.”
Talking about his reunion with the wicket-keeper-bater Rishabh Pant, the DC head coach said, “We missed him incredibly last year. The whole tournament missed him. Rishabh brings so much energy to the team. He’s got that smile on his face, he’s hiting the ball as good as ever and he tends to lit all of his teammates around him.”