Hardik Pandya reveals why he opted to join Gujarat Titans instead of Lucknow Super Giants in draft

IPL 2023: Hardik Pandya reveals how a call from Ashish Nehra made him switch to Gujarat Titans from Lucknow Super Giants.

Two new franchises, Gujarat and Lucknow were included in the IPL setup last year. Defending Champions Gujarat Titans are dominating the Indian Premier League since their inception in 2022. Captain Hardik Pandya and Coach Ashish Nehra’s duo has worked wonders for the Titans since the IPL 2022.  Captain Pandya made a roaring comeback in Cricket through Gujarat Titans in the IPL. Pandya was out for six months due to an injury he carried during WT20 2021. Gujarat Titans gave Pandya redemption in his career. Hardik has now revealed the story of how he almost joined Lucknow Super Giants and then switched back to Gujarat Titans.  

Hardik Pandya almost joined Lucknow Super Giants

When the two new franchises were taking shape, Hardik Pandya revealed that he almost had decided to join Lucknow Super Giants with KL Rahul. He said, “I did get a call from the other franchise as well, which was a new one in the IPL. Someone who I knew (KL Rahul) was leading the team. For me, it was very important, considering the stage at which I was, where I really wanted to play with a person who has known me”. Hardik Pandya was going through a tough time with injuries and poor form.

Ashis Nehra's call and text changed his fortune

Then, Titans' captain Hardik Pandya also revealed that he got a call from Ashish Nehra who was about to be announced as Gujarat Titans coach and that call changed his decision and fortune for his career. He revealed, “But then Ashu pa called me, At that time, the team also did not have permission to be part of the IPL. It was very haywire, things were not even settled. Ashu pa called and said ‘I am going to be the coach, it is not fixed but I will be the coach. Then I said Ashu pa if you were not there I would not have considered this… I have always felt you are one person who has understood what I am”.

Hardik Pandya in a podcast also said that during that period of 6 months, he took a break from Cricket and he told Ashish Nehra that he will have to think about this. After that, he disconnected his call with Ashish Nehra. Then came the big surprise for Hardik Pandya. After disconnecting the call, after a few minutes Ashish Nehra dropped him a text saying, “If you are ready, I would like you to take the Captaincy”. Then Hardik said, “I was surprised and I did not expect that, I have never been a person who has ever run behind anything. If someone comes, It comes, I am in a different Zone”.

This one text changed the fortune of Pandya in his life and career. Gujarat Titans are a consistently performing team since they made their entry into the League. After winning the title in the IPL 2022, they started nicely in the IPL 2023 as well. Currently, they are placed third in the points table with 6 points in 4 games.