IPL 2025: Pandya Discusses Lessons Learned for Squad Development
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Synopsis
As IPL 2025 approaches, Hardik Pandya reflects on last year's challenges for the Mumbai Indians. After a disappointing season, the team has made strategic changes to improve their performance, focusing on building a strong and experienced squad.
Key Takeaways
- MI faced significant challenges during IPL 2024.
- Strategic lessons were learned for squad development.
- Focus on assembling experienced players for IPL 2025.
- Improved bowling attack prioritized for the upcoming season.
- First match against CSK on March 23, 2025.
New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) The IPL 2024 was a difficult season for the Mumbai Indians (MI), who ended up at the bottom of the points tally, and their captain Hardik Pandya was met with boos from the crowd during the early matches of the tournament.
As IPL 2025 approaches, Pandya revealed that the franchise took a close look at their past mistakes to ensure improvements while assembling the squad for the new season.
“With nearly 11 years of experience in the IPL, every season brings a fresh wave of energy and positivity. The challenges we faced in 2024 were significant, but they also provided us with crucial insights. We carefully evaluated those lessons and incorporated them into our team-building strategy for 2025,” said Pandya.
“This year, we have gathered a squad full of seasoned players—athletes who have extensive experience in high-level cricket. That is inherently exciting. The focus now is to unite as a team and implement our strategies effectively. If we succeed in doing that, we can look forward to some great moments ahead,” Pandya shared with JioHotstar.
In preparation for IPL 2025, MI acquired notable overseas players including Trent Boult, Will Jacks, Ryan Rickleton, Mitchell Santner, and Reece Topley, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman stepped in as a replacement for the injured AM Ghazanfar.
Additionally, Indian players such as Deepak Chahar, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, and Raj Angad Bawa were also signed by the team. They also brought in lesser-known talents like Bevon Jacobs, Vignesh Puthur, and Venkata Satyanarayana Raju.
“The selections we made—especially those of experienced players—were in line with our vision. We had a precise understanding of what we wanted. This season, our main goal was to establish a robust bowling lineup, particularly given the challenges posed by Wankhede Stadium,” noted Pandya.
“Competing in the IPL in Mumbai, especially at Wankhede, can be daunting due to the pitch's tendency to favor high scores. We sought bowlers who bring experience, pace, and the capability to create swing and bounce,” he added.
“I am confident that we have curated a well-rounded team that fulfills all our needs from top to bottom. Now it’s about showing up and performing on the field,” concluded Pandya, who recently celebrated being a 2025 Champions Trophy winner with the Indian squad.
MI will kick off their IPL 2025 journey in Chennai against fellow five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23, followed by a match against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on March 29.
