IPL 2023: “Getting Away from MI Has Been The Best Thing for Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya” – Simon Doull

IPL 2023: Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya were an integral part of the Mumbai Indians franchise till IPL 2021 before moving to their current franchises in the mega auction. Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull reckons that getting away from MI has been the best thing for Hardik and Krunal as it allowed them to develop themselves as leaders.

Gujarat Titans picked Hardik in the IPL draft after which they announced him as the skipper of their side ahead of IPL 2022. On the other hand, the Lucknow Super Giants picked Krunal Pandya in the mega auction and named him the vice-captain of the LSG side.

“Getting away from MI has been the best thing for Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya’s game. Growing as leaders, I mean Krunal is not captaining, but he is a real leader in that Lucknow side,” Simon Doull said during a discussion on Cricbuzz.

IPL 2023: “Hardik is learning all the time about captaincy”, Says Simon Doull

“Hardik is learning all the time about captaincy and how teams operate. He is a genuinely good captain and a terrific cricketer. He is just growing and growing in that role and is a future India captain in the white-ball format in particular,” the former New Zealand cricketer discussed Hardik Pandya.

It’s worth noting that Hardik Pandya led his side Gujarat Titans to clinch the IPL 2022 triumph in their maiden campaign. On the other hand, in the absence of KL Rahul, Krunal Pandya has got the opportunity to showcase his leadership skills for Lucknow Super Giants.

Keeping in mind the kind of success he received as a captain, BCCI also handed over the leadership of the Indian T20 side to Hardik in the absence of Rohit Sharma. He has now got great success for the Men in Blue as well after which there are speculations that the all-rounder will take over the captaincy in the shortest format of the game on a permanent basis.

The two sides Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants are doing pretty well in IPL 2023 as well. The GT franchise currently has the fourth position with 4 victories in 6 games. Moreover, LSG has won 4 out of 6 games and has the third position in the IPL 2023 points table.