IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya-led Ahmedabad franchise named as Gujarat Titans

Ahmedabad’s IPL franchise has been named ‘Gujarat Titans’, the team owner confirmed on Wednesday. The team, one of the two newest additions to the league, other being the Lucknow Super Giants, will be led by all-rounder Hardik Pandya. 

Also read: Dhoni’s calm, Kohli’s passion: Pandya’s formula to lead Ahmedabad

The franchise was bought by the Siddharth Patel-led CVC group for Rs 5625 crore in October last year. Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG group bought Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 7090 crore.

The Ahmedabad-based franchise roped in four-time IPL winner Hardik Pandya, who was released by the Mumbai Indians, for a whopping Rs 15 crore. Along with the 28-year-old, Rashid Khan and Shubhman Gill signed with them for Rs 15 and Rs 8 crore respectively. 

Also read: IPL 2022: From David Warner to Yuzvendra Chahal, five players to look out for in mega auction

In his message to the fans, Pandya had said that he is ‘super excited to start this new journey with the Ahmedabad IPL team’.

“Just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the owners, the management for putting their faith in me as the captain of this team. It’s a new era for us and I am excited for what lies ahead,” he was seen as saying in the video message.

South African legend and India’s coach in the 2011 World Cup-winning campaign Gary Kirsten will serve as the batting coach and mentor of the Gujarat Titans. Former India pacer Ashish Nehra was appointed as the head coach. 

Also read: Hardik Pandya will be ‘motivated’ to prove himself as leader: Gary Kirsten

Talking about the captain, Kirsten had said that Pandya will be motivated to show what he can do at the big stage as a leader.

“I am looking forward to working with Hardik as a young and new captain. I think he will be really motivated to come in and make a plan and show what he is capable of at this level of the game as a leader. He’s a great player. What I have heard is that he is really keen to get into the mix and get involved,” Kirsten said.