Sreesanth details how Hardik Pandya leaving Gujarat Titans could work to their advantage

Former India seamer S Sreesanth says Hardik Pandya’s departure from the Gujarat Titans will give their bowlers more freedom in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Sreesanth was referring to last year’s final where Pandya’s long discussion with Mohit Sharma affected bowler’s concentration, and he was hit for a six and a four by Ravindra Jadeja off the last two balls. Chennai Super Kings had pipped Gujarat Titans by five wickets in a rain-affected final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

“There is no Hardik in Gujarat to tell the bowlers what to bowl,” Sreesanth said on Fancode.

“Sometimes you need to give the bowler that freedom to bowl. This time the captain is Gill, and I’m sure Ashish bhai (Ashish Nehra) will say let them bowl. Bowlers will also take responsibility with a young captain and sometimes, this is the advantage of having a young captain,” Sreesanth said.

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya walks back after getting out against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Hardik Pandya captained the Gujarat franchise to the IPL title in their first ever season. They also made it to the IPL final last year. He was traded away to the Mumbai Indians in a hotly-debated transfer last year before the auction. The Mumbai franchise also chose to hand him the captaincy over longtime skipper Rohit Sharma, which cause further debate in the Mumbai fanbase. Pandya was one of the key players in the Mumbai Indians squad who played a role in four of the Mumbai franchise’s IPL trophies.

Pandya didn’t had a great start as Mumbai Indians captain as they lost their first match of the IPL 2024 by six runs.

Sreesanth showered praise on his former teammate and India captain MS Dhoni, who has stepped down from the CSK captaincy at the start of the season.

“You don’t need anyone else in the team, you just need Mahi,” he said.

On Tuesday, CSK will lock horns against Titans at Chepauk.

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