‘You always be MI’s pocket-dynamo’: Hardik Pandya’s emotional message for Ishan Kishan | Cricket News

Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya (X Photo)

Ishan Kishan became a key player for the Mumbai Indians (MI) after joining the team in 2018. His aggressive batting style and dependable wicket-keeping skills made him a valuable asset, often opening the innings or contributing in the middle order.
The five-time IPL champions, MI, chose not to retain Kishan before the mega-auction held in Jeddah.
MI captain, Hardik Pandya, shared a heartfelt message for Kishan in a video posted on X.
“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 skillset he brings. He always used to keep the dressing room light, and has made a lot of people smile.”
Pandya highlighted Kishan’s positive influence on the team’s atmosphere. He acknowledged the difficulty of reacquiring Kishan in the auction, recognizing his valuable skills.

“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.”
Pandya fondly recalled Kishan’s playful nature and the joy he brought to the team. He expressed the team’s collective love and how they would miss his presence.
MI retained key players Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Varma for substantial sums. Their respective retention prices were Rs 18 crore, Rs 16.35 crore, Rs 16.35 crore, Rs 16.30 crore, and Rs 8 crore.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) acquired Ishan Kishan for Rs 11.25 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. This significant investment highlighted Kishan’s market value and the demand for his skills.
Earlier on Thursday, Ishan shared an emotional message on Instagram, reflecting on his time with MI. He expressed gratitude for the experiences and personal growth he gained while with the team.
“So many memories with all of you, so many moments of joy, happiness and growth. MI, Mumbai, and the paltan will always remain in my heart. I’ve grown as a person and a player with all of you by my side. We say goodbye with memories that will stay with me for life. Thank you to the management, coaches, the players I’ve played with and all you fans for always being in my corner.”
Ishan acknowledged the lasting impact of his time with MI, both personally and professionally. He thanked the management, coaches, teammates, and fans for their support.
Mumbai Indians initiated the bidding for Kishan at his base price of Rs 2 crore. However, they stopped bidding at Rs 3.20 crore.