It has been reported by the senior Indian journalist Boria Majumdar that the former Mumbai Indians allrounder Hardik Pandya will be the first draft pick of the newly created Ahmedabad IPL franchise and he will most likely captain the franchise as well in their first ever IPL season in March-April this year.
According to the report, Ishan Kishan and Rashid Khan will be the other two players that Ahmedabad will sign as their draft pick ahead of the mega auction which will take place next month (possibly in Bengaluru if the COVID cases remain under control).
Ahmedabad IPL franchise was already in advanced talks with the three players mentioned, but the final decision could not be reached as CVC Capitals, the owner of the franchise, had not got a final ownership clearance from the BCCI. The clearance has reportedly been given now and the franchise has been allowed to announce the draft picks.
So finally it’s out. Hardik as captain was decided long back. @kushansarkar It was you who first mentioned this 10 days back.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 10, 2022
Hardik Pandya has won 4 IPL titles with Mumbai Indians
Hardik Pandya has been a very successful player in the IPL for the last 6 years and won 4 trophies with Mumbai Indians, however he did so as a player and never had a leadership responsibility on him. His leadership skills will be tested in the upcoming IPL as he takes over a team which will have some big overseas names as well.
Ishan Kishan, who is reportedly going to be the second Indian draft pick for Ahmedabad, has also made some decent contributions for Mumbai Indians in the last few years and he was one of those players who were in line to be retained by Mumbai, but at the very last moment, Mumbai decided to retain Suryakumar Yadav ahead of Ishan.
Rashid Khan, who has been named the T20 player of the decade by ICC, was also shockingly released by his previous franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad over the salary disagreements. He is now going to be the overseas draft pick for Ahmedabad. The franchise now already has three match winners in their ranks before going into the mega auction.
Ahmedabad will have 33 crore INR deducted from their purse for signing Hardik, Ishan and Rashid, however they will still go into the mega auction with a decent budget of 57 crore INR and can add more quality to the squad if they are wise enough in the auction.
Here is how twitter reacted earlier today when reports confirmed Hardik Pandya would captain the Ahmedabad IPL franchise –
Hardik Pandya will be the captain of the brand new Ahmedabad franchise (not Shreyas). They're getting Rashid Khan on board too.
AdvertisementAction-packed week. : )
— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) January 10, 2022
Ahemdabad IPL franchise 3 likely drafts :
Hardik Pandya (Captain),
Ishan Kishan,
Rashid Khan.Ahmedabad franchise coaching squad :
Ashish Nehra, Garry kirsten, ravi ShastriAhmedabad ipl Franchise owner :
CVC capitalAdvertisementAhmedabad ipl franchise home ground :
Narendra Modi stadium— Raja Sekhar Cricket (@CricketWithRaju) January 10, 2022
Some people doubting Hardik pic.twitter.com/5b34yntq3S
— Shashank Balnad (@shashank_balnad) January 10, 2022
If Hardik is drafted in Ahmedabad as captain
Then most valuable player in auction is Shreyas Iyer .
Dynamic young batsman with captaincy material 💥💥 which every franchise wantsEvery franchise will go for him . ❣️#ShreyasIyer #IPL2022
Advertisement— Forty-Five🖤 (@fortyfive09ro) January 10, 2022
Lag hi raha tha Hardik dono me se kisi team ka captain banega https://t.co/eLrIKgj6Li
Advertisement— Aᴋꜱʜᴀʏ Pᴀᴛɪʟ (@iAkshay_HR) January 10, 2022
Hardik Pandya will be the captain of Ahmedabad based IPL franchise. @TeamAhmedabad_
Advertisement— Karan Verma (@KingKaranOffic1) January 10, 2022
Congratulations 🎉 @hardikpandya7 for become a captain of Ahmedabad team in ipl. #IPL2022
Advertisement— Bhavin Patel (@Bhavin772) January 10, 2022
Ahemdabad IPL franchise's 3 likely draft:- (According to PTI)
Advertisement•Hardik Pandya – As Captain.
•Ishan Kishan – WK.
•Rashid Khan – Spinner.— Harsh ❤️🏏 (@cricharsh29) January 10, 2022
Hardik pandya will become captain of ahamdabad franchise.
Captain with 0 skills we have seen this Before in 2014.
Brand value only criteria they saw. Another blunder in Indian cricket.
Advertisement— Sir Dinda Fan – Gulabi Stan Acc (@GoatedDinda) January 10, 2022
Hearing that Hardik will be the captain of Ahmedabad. This means Iyer is coming to auctions. Buy him @mipaltan 🦁🔥
Advertisement— Cricket Expert Rohirat and Dhoni (MI) 💯% FB 🇮🇳 (@rohiratian) January 10, 2022
