Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener, Matthew Hayden, praised Mumbai Indians' captain and star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, stating that he would be a part of his greatest XI in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. Hardik has won five IPL titles, four with MI and one with Gujarat Titans (GT), and has been a consistent performer with both bat and ball since his IPL debut in 2015.
Hardik played for MI from 2015 to 2021. He then captained GT to their maiden IPL title in 2022. He returned to MI before the IPL 2024 season in a deal worth Rs 15 crore. He will take over from former captain Rohit Sharma at the helm of MI.
Hayden, who spoke exclusively to Star Sports at the 'Star Sports Incredible 16 of IPL', emphasised the importance of retaining Indian talent in the squad. He believes that Hardik's explosive batting and dynamic fielding ability make him an ideal choice for the all-rounder position in his greatest IPL XI.
Hardik has scored 2309 runs in his career, including 346 runs last year and 487 runs in the 2022 season. Hayden acknowledges the importance of a well-rounded all-rounder in the ideal IPL lineup and admires Ravindra Jadeja's left-arm spin and superb fielding abilities.
Former Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody also picked his own version of the greatest IPL XI, with Hardik Pandya as the preferred all-rounder.
Hardik Pandya has earned a place in Matthew Hayden and Tom Moody's greatest IPL XI of all time for his consistent performances with both bat and ball. A valuable asset to any team, Hardik will continue to make waves in the IPL for years to come with his explosive batting and dynamic fielding.