Hardik Pandya, in a farewell message to the Mumbai Indians, on Thursday said that every moment with the team has a special place in his heart. The all-rounder’s statement came a day after the franchise released him ahead of the mega auction for the 2022 Indian Premier League.
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The younger Pandya brother made his IPL debut with Mumbai in 2015. He played a key role in their title-winning campaigns in 2017, 2019 and 2020. However, in the 2021 edition of the league, the Baroda cricketer failed to live up to his reputation. After sustaining an injury, he did not bowl for the side. With the bat, Pandya recorded a strike rate of only 113.39, scoring 127 runs in 12 appearances.
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After being released, Pandya posted an emotional video montage of his time with Mumbai Indians on social media.
“I’ll carry these memories with me for the rest of my life, I’ll carry these moments with me for the rest of my life. The friendships I’ve made, the bonds that have been formed, the people, the fans, I’ll always be grateful. I’ve grown not just as a player but as a person. I came here as a youngster with big dreams – we won together, we lost together, we fought together. Every moment with this team has a special place in my heart.”
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“They say all good things must end but @mumbaiindians will remain in my heart forever,” Pandya wrote in the captaion.
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Hardik’s elder brother Krunal Pandya was also released by the five-time champions. Mumbai chose to retain four players – captain Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav and West Indies’ Kieron Pollard.
