Ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya is on the verge of making a significant move in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He is reportedly set to leave the Gujarat Titans and return to the Mumbai Indians, the team where he kickstarted his IPL career back in 2015.
This trade is no small matter; it's an all-cash deal with Mumbai Indians reportedly paying a substantial INR 15 crore (approximately $1.8 million) as Hardik's salary, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.
Additionally, an undisclosed transfer fee is part of the deal, with Hardik standing to gain up to 50% of this fee. If this trade goes through, it could potentially become the most substantial player trade in the history of the IPL.
As of now, neither franchise has made any official statement regarding the trade. However, there are challenges for Mumbai in terms of the budget. Post the last auction, they were left with a minimal purse of just INR 0.05 crore (around $6000). With an additional INR 5 crore ($600,000) expected in their purse for the upcoming auction, Mumbai will need to release players to accommodate the Hardik trade. The retention deadline is set to expire on November 26 at 4 pm IST.
If the trade materializes, Hardik Pandya will join the exclusive club of captains who have been traded in the IPL, following the footsteps of R Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane in 2020. Notably, the Gujarat Titans, owned by global fund manager CVC Capital Partners, came into existence in 2021 and made a strategic move by signing Hardik along with Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill during the player draft.
Hardik's journey in the IPL began with the Mumbai Indians, where he evolved into one of the premier all-rounders in the game. Initially purchased for a modest INR 10 lakhs as an uncapped player in 2015, Hardik played a crucial role in Mumbai's title-winning campaigns in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Despite being a key player for Mumbai until 2021, the franchise surprised many by releasing him ahead of the 2022 mega auction. Mumbai had the option to retain only four players that year and opted for Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Kieron Pollard, allowing the Gujarat Titans to secure Hardik as their captain.
Hardik Pandya, during his stint with the Gujarat Titans, played a pivotal role in leading the team to the title in 2022, their inaugural IPL season. He was also named the Player of the Match in the final against the Rajasthan Royals. In the 2023 season, Titans reached the IPL final for the second consecutive time under Hardik's leadership but finished as runners-up to the Chennai Super Kings. In both seasons, the Titans secured the top spot in the league stage.
During his two-season tenure with the Titans, Hardik showcased his all-round skills by scoring 833 runs in 30 innings at an impressive average of 41.65 and a strike rate of 133.49. He also contributed with the ball, taking 11 wickets at an economy of 8.1. Currently nursing an ankle injury sustained during India's ODI World Cup campaign, Hardik's potential move is generating significant buzz.
Renowned South African batsman AB de Villiers suggests that the anticipated shift of Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians before IPL 2024 retentions may be indicative of the all-rounder sensing the conclusion of his tenure with the recently-established franchise.
De Villiers goes on to foresee Hardik eventually assuming the captaincy for Mumbai, while Rohit Sharma shoulders the responsibilities of leading India across all formats.
Expressing uncertainty about the potential captaincy dynamics, de Villiers acknowledges Rohit's penchant for leading from the front. He highlights Hardik's significant contributions to Mumbai Indians over the years, emphasizing his affinity for playing at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite winning the trophy with Gujarat Titans and reaching the final in the 2023 season, Hardik may perceive his time with the franchise as concluded, prompting a return to Mumbai Indians.
“I don’t know if its going to cause them a bit of a headache on who’s going to be the captain. I mean, Rohit is the captain and loves leading from the front. Its exciting as he (Hardik) was a big player for Mumbai Indians for many years. He loved playing at the Wankhede Stadium. He won the trophy with Gujarat Titans and then also went to the final (of the 2023 season),” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
“He probably feels his time there is done and now head back to Mumbai Indians. I have a funny feeling Rohit is going to let him (Hardik) captain and take the reins, as Rohit carries a lot of pressure of captaining Team India. Maybe that is going to be the move, but let’s see what happens," he added.
Former England cricketer turned commentator, Michael Vaughan, weighed in on the evolving situation, drawing parallels with football's transfer fees while noting the substantial rumored amount of INR 15 crore (approximately $1.8 million) linked to Hardik Pandya's potential move back to Mumbai Indians.
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