Ishika Aggarwal
Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya has shared an emotional farewell message for Ishan Kishan following the latter’s move to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL mega auction 2025.
Notably, the wicketkeeper-batter was not retained by MI ahead of the auction, and was acquired by SRH for a staggering amount of ₹11.25 crore.
On Sunday, December 1, the Mumbai Indians’ official X account posted a heartfelt video of Pandya addressing Ishan Kishan’s departure.
‘Ishan has been the ‘freshness’ and the ‘energy’ of the room’ – Hardik Pandya
Reflecting on the 26-year-old’s vibrant presence in the team, Pandya in the video said, “Ishan has been the ‘freshness’ and the ‘energy’ of the room. When we couldn’t retain him, we always knew that it’s gonna be very difficult to get him back from the auction simply because we knew that, the kind of player and kind of skills he brings. He always used to keep the dressing room light, and has made a lot of people smile.”
He added, “That love and warmth, it came very natural to him and there will be less cake smashing, less pranks happening on people. That was Ishan and who used to bring so much love to this team, that is something as a group we are going to miss. Ishan Kishan, you always be MI’s pocket-dynamo. We all gonna miss you and we all love you.”
Ishan, who joined MI in 2018 after making his IPL debut with Gujarat Lions in 2016, was instrumental in the franchise’s success over the years. He played 89 matches for MI, amassing 2,325 runs with 15 fifties.
His career best performances came in the 2020 season, where he scored 516 runs in 14 games at a remarkable average of 57.33, including four half-centuries. The talented left-hander was also part of MI’s championship-winning campaigns in 2019 and 2020.
The IPL 2025 will markIshan Kishan donning the SRH colors for the first time. As MI bids farewell to their opener, the Hyderabad fans will eagerly await the impact he creates in his new chapter with the IPL 2024 finalists.
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