Shubman Gill Appointed as Captain of Gujarat Titans for IPL 2024 Season
In a surprising turn of events, Gujarat Titans announced on Monday that Shubman Gill will take over as the captain for the upcoming 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This decision came after Hardik Pandya decided to move back to his former team, Mumbai Indians. As part of the all-cash trade deal, Mumbai Indians will pay Gujarat Titans Rs 15 crore, along with an undisclosed transfer fee, a portion of which will also be given to Pandya.
Gill, a 24-year-old opener, had an outstanding performance in the previous season, earning him the prestigious “orange cap” with a total of 890 runs. He was second only to Virat Kohli’s all-time record of 973 runs. Given his impressive performance, Gill was the obvious choice for captaincy once Pandya’s departure was confirmed.
Expressing his gratitude, Gill said in a statement, “I am delighted and proud to assume the captaincy of Gujarat Titans and thank the franchise for their trust in me to lead such a fine team. We have had two exceptional seasons, and I keenly look forward to leading the team with our exciting brand of cricket.”
Pandya took to social media platform ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter, to share his emotions. “This brings back so many wonderful memories. Mumbai. Wankhede. Paltan. Feels good to be back,” Pandya commented on a video showcasing his journey with Mumbai Indians.
GT Team Director Vikram Solanki acknowledged Pandya’s contribution to the team’s success over the last two seasons. “As the first captain of Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya has helped the franchise deliver two fantastic seasons that resulted in winning one IPL championship and one appearance in the final,” Solanki said in a statement. “He has now expressed a desire to return to his original team Mumbai Indians. We respect his decision and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors,” Solanki added.
Solanki, who has closely worked with Gill, praised his growth and maturity. “Shubman Gill has shown growth in stature and standing over the last two years at the highest level of the game. We’ve seen him mature not only as a batter but also as a leader in cricket,” Solanki stated. “His maturity and skill are evident in his on-field performance, and we are extremely excited to embark on a new journey with a young leader like Shubman at the helm,” he further added.
The owners of Mumbai Indians, Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani, expressed their joy at Pandya’s return. “We are thrilled to welcome Hardik back home! It’s a heartwarming reunion with our Mumbai Indians family! From being a young scouted talent of Mumbai Indians to now being a team India star, Hardik has come a long way, and we’re excited for what the future holds for him and Mumbai Indians,” Mrs. Ambani said. Akash Ambani highlighted Pandya’s ability to bring balance to any team and wished him success in his second stint with Mumbai Indians.
With this captaincy change and Pandya’s return to Mumbai Indians, the IPL 2024 season is set to witness new dynamics and intense competition on the field.
