All-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set for an emotional performance against his former franchise Mumbai Indians on Friday. Hardik’s team Gujarat Titans will face the five-time champions at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
Hardik spent 7 seasons with Mumbai Indians during which the team won 4 titles as the all-rounder scored 1476 runs and took 42 wickets for them. He was an integral member of the winning machine led by Rohit Sharma.
However, on Friday, Hardik will play against Mumbai for the first time. It will be a battle of teams at opposite ends of the points table as Gujarat are one win away from potentially confirming their berth in the IPL 2022 playoffs. MI, on the other hand, are out of the race for the playoffs after just 1 win in 9 matches.
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Speaking in the lead-up to the big clash, Hardik recalled some of his fondest memories with Mumbai Indians, saying that their knock against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk in 2015 gave him a glimpse of popularity and fame.
The star-all-rounder also revealed that he had a conversation with Kieron Pollard a few days back and wished him well. The Gujarat Titans captain also said that he jokingly told Pollard that the former West Indies captain might play for his franchise next year.
“I’ve always seen myself in blue and gold, but I’m also in blue and gold with my home state, which is even more special. I got my first glimpse of success in that game (against CSK) where I played. Scored 3 runs. Sixes when we needed something in 32 or 2 overs. There are so many memories, all my memories are made with that team,” Hardik said in a video shared by Gujarat Titans.
“I wish Polly (Pollard) had the best day for her, but I hope we win. I messaged Polly a few days ago and said ‘Hope you’re well, hope you’re enjoying it’ ‘. I said we miss him here. I joked, ‘You never know. You can come to us next year’. It’s my wish but I know it’s never going to happen.”
A tale of two colors – blue and gold – in the words of #papapandya
The captain relives his MI memories before the day’s clash #gtvmi@HardikPandya7 #SeasonOfFirsts #Awade pic.twitter.com/4ZNe7Gh69v
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) 6 May 2022
Hardik and Pollard have been great partners on and off the field, with the West Indies star calling the West Indies star ‘another mother’s brother’ in the past.
Pollard, who was retained by Mumbai Indians, is going through one of his thinnest patches. The big-hitting star, who retired from international cricket last month, has scored just 125 runs in 9 matches for the 5-time champions at a modest average of less than 20.