IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya IPL Team Finalized After Months Of Deliberation Between Mumbai Indians And Gujarat Titans

India allrounder Hardik Pandya is reportedly set to seal a sensational return to Mumbai Indians before the ongoing trading window closes. The deadline for the trading window to close is November 26. It is also the final date for the IPL teams to submit their retention lists.

Hardik Pandya began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians in 2015 and played for them till 2021. In those seven seasons, he helped them win four IPL titles. He was released by Mumbai Indians before IPL 2022 and was signed up by Gujarat Titans, one of the two new sides introduced in the competition that year.

In his very first season with the Gujarat-based outfit, he led them to IPL glory and became the first captain after the legendary Shane Warne to lead a team to the title in its first year. He was the Player of the Match in the final. In his second season, he led Gujarat Titans to the final once again before the team lost the title decider against Chennai Super Kings.

In two seasons with the Titans, the India allrounder scored 833 runs in 30 innings, with an average of 41.65 and a strike rate of 133.49. With the ball, he picked up 11 wickets with an economy rate of 8.1.

Hardik Pandya to return to Mumbai Indians:

After two highly successful seasons with Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya is all set to return to his first IPL team. According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, it will be an all-cash deal between the two teams. Mumbai Indians will be paying INR 15 crore ($1.8 million approx.) as their former allrounder’s salary and an undisclosed transfer fee to Titans. Hardik Pandya is set to earn up to 50% of the transfer fee.

The report further stated that the Mumbai Indians’ biggest challenge in making the huge deal possible was having an adequate purse for the trade. After the last auction, the five-time champions were left with a purse of just INR 0.05 crore.

Franchises will get an additional INR 5 crore ($600,000 approx.) in their purse for the forthcoming auction. In such a case, Mumbai Indians will have no option but to release players to have the adequate amount to secure Hardik Pandya’s services.

If Mumbai Indians manage to pull off the trade, it will be one of the biggest in the history of the IPL. Additionally, it will mark only the third occasion when a captain is traded. In 2020, Ravichandran Ashwin moved from Punjab Kings to Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals traded Ajinkya Rahane to Capitals.