'It doesn't sit right': Former India opener's daring verdict on Hardik Pandya's MI homecoming

Ahead of the IPL 2024 mini-auction, Gujarat Titans captain and ace Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has switched sides and has returned to his old team Mumbai Indians. During the IPL 2024 trading window, the five-time IPL champions have brought in Hardik Pandya after releasing Australian all-rounder Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

3 things you need to know 

• The IPL 2024 mini-auction will reportedly take place on December 19
• Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans to an IPL title in their debut season 
• Hardik Pandya has won a total of four IPL titles with Mumbai Indians 

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Aakash Chopra's bold verdict on Hardik Pandya's MI return 

While speaking on his YouTube channel, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra assumed that Hardik Pandya's return to Mumbai Indians would not look good on his career. The former Indian opener said: 

The one thing that won't look good on Hardik's CV is that he left Mumbai because he wanted to become a captain. You went to Gujarat and then became the Indian captain. You will no longer be a franchise captain now but you still want to be India's captain - it doesn't sit right. It doesn't look right whether you look from optics or any other angle, that you are not your franchise's captain but are India's captain in the T20 World Cup. It doesn't sound right but so be it. 

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Hardik Pandya's wonderful captaincy run with Gujarat Titans 

After being roped in by Gujarat Titans in the year 2022, Hardik Pandya led the franchise to the IPL title in their debut edition and was later handed over India's captaincy in the T20I format. Pandya has performed well with both bat and ball after becoming captain due to which he is also seen as a successor of Rohit Sharma in Team India. 

Hardik Pandya is also expected to lead the Indian team in the 2024 T20 World Cup if Rohit Sharma opts out of the tournament. Hardik Pandya has the capabilities to help the team bring back the elusive T20 trophy home.