'Hardik Pandya made a blunder by leaving GT' - Mohammed Kaif after star all-rounder's trade from MI to PBKS
Mohammed Kaif criticises Hardik Pandya's decision to leave Gujarat Titans, saying the all-rounder went backwards after returning to Mumbai Indians and should now focus on regaining form at Punjab.
Hardik Pandya has been traded from Mumbai Indians to Punjab Kings in a deal completed on November 11, 2026. The all-rounder moves to PBKS at a valuation of INF 18 crore, representing an increase from his previous Rs 16.35 crore assessment, while Arshdeep Singh joins MI at Rs 18 crore. This marks Pandya's third IPL franchise after his earlier stints with MI from 2015 and Gujarat Titans from 2022 to 2023.
Former India batter Mohammed Kaif has offered a sharp critique of Pandya's career trajectory, particularly his decision to leave Gujarat Titans. Kaif believes the move represented a significant misstep in the all-rounder's IPL journey. The cricketer-turned-expert outlined his assessment of Pandya's recent seasons and the implications of his latest transfer.
"It was a blunder by Hardik to leave GT...He had a connection with MI, and maybe that drew him back...You made GT champions and were the king there. But that decision hurt him. He went backwards in his performance and captaincy," Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Pandya's captaincy record at MI proved challenging across two seasons. In 2024, MI struggled significantly under his leadership, while the franchise finished in 9th place during the 2026 season. The all-rounder captained the franchise after returning from Gujarat Titans in 2024, but the team's performance declined markedly during his tenure.
What was Hardik's record at Gujarat Titans?
At Gujarat Titans, Pandya established himself as a successful leader and mature cricketer. Across 31 matches as GT captain, he accumulated 833 runs in 30 innings at an average of 37.86 with a strike rate of 133.49, striking six fifties. He also took 11 wickets at an average of 40.91 during his captaincy stint. Pandya led GT to the IPL title once and finished as runners-up in his second season with the franchise.
Kaif emphasised that the weight of leadership had affected Pandya's individual performance metrics. Many players struggle under the demands of captaincy, and Kaif suggested that stepping away from the leadership role could prove beneficial for the all-rounder's form.
"Many players want captaincy. But a lot of them do not perform well under the pressure of captaincy...It will be good for Hardik that he is not captain. At PBKS, he should look to regain his form as a batter, a bowler, and a finisher," Kaif added.
Pandya's overall IPL record spans 162 matches, during which he has scored 2,955 runs at an average of 146.28 and claimed 82 wickets. His second stint with MI saw him accumulate 647 runs across 39 matches at a strike rate of 147.82, while taking 29 wickets at an average of 21.53. The move to Punjab Kings represents an opportunity for Pandya to reset his career trajectory outside the captaincy framework and focus on his individual contributions as a batter and bowler.
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