Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to cut ties with his current team, Gujarat Titans, and return to his former franchise, Mumbai Indians for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League, as per ESPNcricinfo. Gujarat Titans skipper will join the five-times winners Mumbai Indians in all clash deal.
The trade is an all-cash deal comprising the Mumbai-based franchise paying 15 crore rupees as the 30-year-old`s salary and an undisclosed transfer fee to Titans. Hardik stands to earn up to 50% of the transfer fee, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.
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In the initial years, Mumbai Indians signed Hardik Pandya for only Rs. 10 lakh in the year 2015. In IPL 2022, the five-time champions Mumbai Indians released Hardik Pandya. He picked up 42 wickets and smashed 1,476 runs for Mumbai Indians in seven years.
Gujarat Titans will now look to find a new captain for their team. They even have New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and India`s star-opening batsman Shubman Gill in their side.
If the move happens successfully then it will be considered the biggest player trade in IPL history. As of now, neither franchise has made it official.
The all-rounder led the Gujarat-based franchise to win the title in the 2022 season of the IPL and was also named the `Player of the Match` in the final game against Rajasthan Royals.
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In the previous edition of the IPL, GT confirmed their place in the IPL final for the second time in their first two seasons. However, in 2023 they lost against Chennai Super Kings and were runners-up.
If the trade happens successfully, the 30-year-old will become the third skipper to be traded after Ravichandran Ashwin changed from Punjab Kings to Delhi Capitals. The second time was when Rajasthan Royals traded Ajinkya Rahane to the Capitals in 2020.
Hardik made his debut in the 2015 season, following that he has played 123 matches in which he has scalped 53 wickets and scored 2309 runs at a strike rate of 139.89.
(With ANI Inputs)
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