Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been in headlines over the past few days after he was recently traded from Mumbai Indians to Punjab Kings, with Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh heading to Mumbai Indians. Pandya's transfer to PBKS brought his second stint with the five-time IPL champions to an end. Previously, Pandya represented MI between 2015 and 2021, playing a major role in team’s rise. However, his return to the franchise did not bring about the fruitful results. 

After spending two seasons with Gujarat Titans, Pandya reunited with Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2024 campaign and was appointed captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. Under his leadership, Mumbai Indians endured a disappointing 2024 season, finishing at the bottom of the points table and missing out on a playoff spot. MI also missed the playoffs in 2026. 

Interestingly, Pandya had enjoyed greater success during his time with Gujarat Titans. He guided the team to the IPL trophy in their debut season. Meanwhile, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes Pandya may have made the wrong decision by leaving Gujarat Titans for Mumbai Indians.

"It was a blunder by Hardik to leave GT. I think it was an emotional call. He had a connection with MI, and maybe that drew him back. It is always a tough call. You made GT champions and were the king there. But that decision hurt him. He went backwards in his performance and captaincy. It would be better for him to forget the second part with MI as soon as he can and move forward," Kaif said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Kaif also asserted that Pandya’s move to join PBKS could prove to be positive for his performance. 

"Many players want captaincy. But a lot of them do not perform well under the pressure of captaincy. It is not everybody's cup of tea. It is even more difficult in the IPL. It will be good for Hardik that he is not the captain. At PBKS, he should look to regain his form as a batter, a bowler and a finisher. There is no doubt that he is a great player. So, it is good that he is not the captain. He can focus on his game. Being an all-rounder and a captain is all the more difficult," he said.