Hardik Pandaya said “Got a call from LSG, was keen to play with KL Rahul”. Gujarat signed Hardik Pandya for the staggering sum of INR 15 crores.
The Gujarat Titans’ captain, Hardik Pandya, reveal that KL Rahul’s Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were interest in signing him for the 2022 season. Gujarat famously paid the captain a record INR 15 crore, and he led the squad to triumph by winning the coveted championship in their debut season.
Another team, the colorful KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants, also made their debut in 2022. There is no denying the strong bond Rahul and Hardik have, both on and off the field. On that point, the GT captain revealed that he was ‘eager’ to play with KL Rahul and was on the verge of joining LSG.
“I did get a call from the other franchise (Lucknow Super Giants) as well, which was a new franchise in 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 said on the Gujarat Titans.
“I always found that people who know me have a different perspective than people who have never come across or come close to me. When I got the opportunity to work with someone I know, I was very keen to go to that side,”
He added.
Read also: Bengaluru will have the Ranji Trophy knock-out matches, agreeing to reports.
Hardik explains how Ashish Nehra’s phone call inspired him to join GT.
Given that he led Gujarat to victory in their inaugural season, which turned out to be rather special for the franchise as well, Hardik’s decision to join Gujarat proved to be a blessing for him. He added that the phone call from former Indian bowler Ashish Nehra changed his mind about joining the Gujarat-based team.
“But then Ashu (Ashish Nehra) pa called me. At that time, the team also didn’t have permission to be part of the IPL. It was very haywire; things weren’t even settled.
He said.
‘I’m going to be the coach. It isn’t fixed yet, but I will be coach’. I was like, ‘Ashu pa, if you weren’t there, I wouldn’t have even considered this because you’re saying I’ve always felt you are one person who has understood what I am’,”
Hardik added.
Read also: I am recovering very well: Rishabh Pant
See also: Best Casino and Betting Sites in India