Star all rounder Hardik Pandya has made a great comeback as the Mumbai Indians (MI) captain, as the franchise have qualified for the playoffs for the 11th time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history. The swashbuckling all-rounder has managed to overcome the demons of last year, in which the five-time IPL champions had one of their worst seasons.
The 2024 T20 World Champion has not only proved himself as a leader but has also delivered some great performances in the IPL 2025 edition. Not only has Pandya scored 161 runs at a healthy strike rate of 161, but he is also among the highest wicket-takers for the franchise, taking 13 wickets from the 12 matches he has played so far. Former India skipper and middle order batter Ajay Jadeja praised the Baroda player for his never-say-die attitude and his ability to motivate the team even during tough moments on the field.
“Hardik has been fabulous. He has got the energy. He has got a different style of captaining. Unfortunately, last season wasn’t a success. He has kept his cool. He has carried on the way he captains, whether he was at GT, whether it was last year. He is an excellent motivator. He is one man who has shown he never gives up. Yes, there is an excellent analytical team out there who is helping him out. But the energy that he brings in!” Jadeja said during a discussion on JioStar.
“Hardik has been fabulous. He has got the energy. He has got a different style of captaining. Unfortunately, last season wasn’t a success. He has kept his cool. He has carried on the way he captains, whether he was at GT, whether it was last year. He is an excellent motivator. He is one man who has shown he never gives up. Yes, there is an excellent analytical team out there who is helping him out. But the energy that he brings in!” he further continued.
“It’s lovely to see, for a man who has had such a tough time last year, with the same team, same ground, same fans — he has turned it around. The same fans at this ground were booing him last year; now they are cheering for him. That shows his character. You want to always have a leader like him — not just when you’re winning, but when you are losing as well,” the former India batter concluded.
IPL 2025: Saba Karim on DC’s poor death bowling vs MI
Can Mumbai Indians earn a top-two finish?
Though MI will be pleased to have made it into the playoffs, they might also take a chance at trying to secure a top-two finish. This will be tough for the Men in Blue and Gold, as they will not only have to win their last remaining match against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the league stage, but also hope that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and PBKS lose their last two games.
