Pending any last-minute alterations, Hardik Pandya is on the verge of departing Gujarat Titans to rejoin Mumbai Indians, the team where he initiated his IPL journey in 2015.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the potential transfer involves an all-cash arrangement, with Mumbai Indians offering INR 15 crore ($1.8 million approx.) as Hardik’s salary and an undisclosed transfer fee to Titans. Hardik could receive up to 50% of the transfer fee.
If the deal is finalized, it could potentially be the most significant player trade in IPL history. Both franchises have not yet made any official statements regarding the trade. Mumbai’s main challenge is ensuring they have a sufficient purse for the transaction. After the last auction, Mumbai had a mere INR 0.05 crore ($6000 approx.) remaining. Franchises will receive an additional INR 5 crore ($600,000 approx.) in their purse for the upcoming auction. This means Mumbai must release player(s) to facilitate the Hardik trade before the retention deadline expires on November 26 at 4 pm IST.
Hardik Pandya set to return to Mumbai Indians after a 2-year successful stint with Gujarat Titans
Hardik led Titans to victory in 2022, their inaugural IPL season, and was named the Player of the Match in the final against Rajasthan Royals. In 2023, Titans reached the IPL final again, finishing as runners-up to Chennai Super Kings. Under Hardik’s captaincy, Titans secured the top position in the league stage in both seasons.
During his two-season tenure at Titans, Hardik accumulated 833 runs in 30 innings with an average of 41.65 and a strike rate of 133.49. He also claimed 11 wickets with an economy of 8.1. Currently nursing an ankle injury sustained during India’s ODI World Cup campaign, Hardik’s potential return to Mumbai would mark the third captain traded, following R Ashwin’s move from Punjab Kings to Delhi Capitals and Ajinkya Rahane’s trade from Rajasthan Royals to Capitals in 2020.
When Titans were established in 2021, owned by global fund manager CVC Capital Partners, they were allowed to select three players from the pool released by other franchises before the mega auction. Titans signed Hardik and Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan for INR 15 crore each, with Shubman Gill as their third pick at INR 7 crore.
Mumbai is where Hardik commenced his IPL journey, evolving into one of the premier all-rounders in the game. Purchased for INR 10 lakhs as an uncapped player in 2015, Hardik contributed to Mumbai’s title-winning seasons in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Despite being retained by Mumbai in every auction until 2021, he was released ahead of the 2022 mega auction, a decision that took many by surprise. Mumbai, limited to retaining only four players that year, chose to retain Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Kieron Pollard, paving the way for Titans to sign Hardik as their captain.
Also read: IPL 2024: As the deadline approaches, talk rife of a mega player trade
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