IPL 2024 Auction: Irfan Pathan Picks Potential Hardik Pandya Replacement for Gujarat Titans
Hardik Pandya was traded to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans during IPL 2024 retentions.
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan proposes Azmatullah Omarzai as a fitting replacement for Hardik Pandya in the Gujarat Titans lineup for the upcoming 2024 season of the Indian Premier League.
Notably, Hardik Pandya, who led the Gujarat Titans for two years, was traded to Mumbai Indians during the IPL 2024 retentions. It was a monetary deal, with Mumbai Indians paying INR 15 Crore to the Titans to secure the services of the star all-rounder.
The Gujarat Titans face the challenge of finding a player of Hardik Pandya’s calibre, yet the ex-India fast bowler suggests that acquiring someone like Azmatullah Omarzai could address a few concerns for the 2022 champions.
Here’s what Irfan Pathan told the Star Sports:
“Looking at the Gujarat Titans, they are missing out on Hardik Pandya. Obviously, they are missing out on a leader and a guy who can actually do both bat and ball equally, really well. Who is there at the auction table?”
“I see Azmatullah Omarzai going to Gujarat Titans because he is a perfect fit. We have Rashid Khan there as well, who can actually get the best out of his countryman. Apart from an all-rounder, they require a proper fast bowler there. They need to go for that extra pace, and they have a good purse available.”
Omarzai pulled out all the stops to shine at the right time, earning his stripes as a key player for Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Notably, his standout performance came during a match against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where he scored an unbeaten 97 runs.
