Tom Moody Questions Hardik Pandya’s Retention by Mumbai Indians
Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody has raised questions about the decision of Mumbai Indians (MI) to retain Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya for Rs 18 crore for the next Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Moody shared his thoughts on ESPNCricinfo, suggesting that MI captain Rohit Sharma might be disillusioned with the team’s performance over the past year.
Hardik Pandya’s Performance
Hardik Pandya, who returned to MI as captain after a stint with Gujarat Titans, faced criticism from fans and underperformed in the 2024 season. He scored only 216 runs in 13 innings and took 11 wickets, leading to MI finishing at the bottom of the table.
Moody’s Retention Picks
Moody suggested retaining players like Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma. He questioned if Hardik Pandya deserves the Rs 18 crore retention, citing his struggles with fitness and performance.
Concerns About Ishan Kishan
Moody also expressed concerns about young wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who scored 320 runs in 14 games last season. He questioned if Kishan’s performance justifies his retention cost.
IPL Governing Council Decisions
The IPL Governing Council has set new regulations for the 2025-2027 cycle, allowing franchises to retain up to six players and setting the auction purse at INR 120 Crore for IPL 2025. A match fee of INR 7.5 Lakhs per match has been introduced for the first time.
Doubts Revealed
Tom Moody -: Tom Moody is a former cricketer from Australia who played international cricket and is now involved in cricket coaching and commentary.
Hardik Pandya -: Hardik Pandya is an Indian cricketer known for his all-round abilities, meaning he can both bat and bowl well. He plays in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Mumbai Indians team.
Mumbai Indians -: Mumbai Indians is a popular cricket team that plays in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in India.
Rs 18 Crore -: Rs 18 Crore refers to 18 crore Indian Rupees, which is a large amount of money. In this context, it is the amount Mumbai Indians paid to retain Hardik Pandya in their team.
IPL -: IPL stands for Indian Premier League, which is a professional cricket league in India where teams from different cities compete against each other.
Jasprit Bumrah -: Jasprit Bumrah is an Indian cricketer known for his fast bowling. He is considered one of the best bowlers in the world and plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
Suryakumar Yadav -: Suryakumar Yadav is an Indian cricketer who plays as a batsman. He is known for his aggressive batting style and also plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
Ishan Kishan -: Ishan Kishan is an Indian cricketer who plays as a wicketkeeper-batsman. He is known for his explosive batting and is part of the Mumbai Indians team in the IPL.
IPL Governing Council -: The IPL Governing Council is a group of people responsible for making important decisions and rules for the Indian Premier League.
Match fee introduction -: Match fee introduction means that players will now receive a specific amount of money for each match they play in the IPL, which is a new rule for the upcoming seasons.