If 2022 was a disastrous season for Mumbai Indians who finished at the bottom of the table, 2023 would have left a bittersweet taste in the mouth as they made it to the playoffs with a weakened team. However, bringing Hardik Pandya back could prove to be a game-changer for the franchise this year. Hardik, when fully fit, is a rare breed – an Indian pace-bowling all-rounder who can bowl at brisk pace at any stage of the game, also having brutal power-hitting ability in the final overs. When Hardik was not retained ahead of the mega auction in 2021, he hadn’t bowled a single ball for the franchise for a couple of years (2020, 2021). His batting stocks had also fallen drastically in 2021 when he averaged just 14.11 at a strike rate of 113.29. MI 𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 🎬#ICYMI here are the 🔝 #MIBTS 𝓶𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼 from our Pre-Season Press Conference! 🎙️🤩#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians | @hardikpandya7 @markb46 pic.twitter.com/GnU1ziBQBz — Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 19, 2024 However, while not retaining him would have been an easier decision at …