After numerous days of speculations and rumours, Hardik Pandya has left Gujarat Titans to join his former franchise Mumbai Indians. This move makes it one of the most stunning trades in IPL history. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has made his way to Royal Challengers Bangalore to free up funds with Mumbai Indians.
Hardik guided the Gujarat Titans to win in their IPL season debut. He was also voted Player of the Match during the tournament’s final contest versus the Rajasthan Royals. The Titans qualified for the IPL final for a second consecutive year in 2023. However they lost their match against the Chennai Super Kings in a tense encounter.
In 2015, Hardik signed a contract for Rs 10 lakhs to begin his IPL career with Mumbai MI as an uncapped player. Mumbai’s title wins in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 were aided by him. MI released Hardik prior to the IPL 2022 mega-auction. The franchise had decided to go with seasoned players in the form of Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Keiron Pollard and Suryakumar Yadav
Why did Gujarat Titans retain their captain ahead of IPL retention day?
Following many days of conjecture, the Gujarat Titans announced their retention list in advance of the IPL 2024 auction. In the list, the major news was of the retention of skipper Hardik Pandya. The news was shocking given rumours of trade discussions between him and his last IPL team, the Mumbai Indians (MI).
This was done by the franchise, so that Mumbai Indians can figure out their trade with the Royal Challengers Bangalore for Cameron Green. After the trade between MI and RCB was confirmed, it meant that the former could fund the purchase of Hardik Pandya.
Even after the purchase of the Team India all-rounder, MI still have upto INR 17.75 crores to spend during the IPL auction. They would be looking to bolster their spin department and fill up some slots in the overseas section as well.
Fans react as IPL confirms Hardik Pandya’s homecoming to Mumbai Indians: –
Hardik Pandya in Mumbai Indians Jersey. ?? pic.twitter.com/S1JSL4lAia
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 27, 2023
Hardik pandya is an emotion for Mumbai Indians? pic.twitter.com/zrCM9mIX2A
— White knight ? (@santhoshtiger14) November 27, 2023
Rohit to Ambani – Please Don't Sacked me from captaincy pic.twitter.com/eu1TgboVnq
— Groot ? (@IAmGrootX18) November 27, 2023
And finally trade confirms ?#IPLretention #IPLAuction #IPLTrade #IPL2024 #MI #HardikPandya #humor pic.twitter.com/5XuQXoUGpc
— Cricket Minister of India (@2_Wickets_Down) November 27, 2023
The real game will start now in Mumbai indian captain..
Getting Hardik is a big deciding captain will be the toughest call for Mumbai indian management pic.twitter.com/mHcPiP2ySK— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) November 27, 2023
How can they rob this man from GT, power of money ? pic.twitter.com/vlR4FOwjRm
— World Hall of Fun (@WorldHallOfFun) November 27, 2023
Always with blue?????
— The Pet Nation (@thepetnationn) November 27, 2023
GT fan's rn ? pic.twitter.com/99lmtykzMF
— Radhika Chaudhary (@Radhika8057) November 27, 2023
Is this Biggest Betrayal in History of IPL
— Utkarsh (@utkarshh_tweet) November 27, 2023
Nice to see him in Mumbai Indians jersy.
— Ashish Pandit (@Ashish_Pandit02) November 27, 2023
— ? (@shiv0037) November 27, 2023
