IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya set to leave Gujarat Titans, return to Mumbai Indians

New Delhi : Cricketer Hardik Pandya will be moving out from Gujarat Titans and join back Mumbai Indians, where he had started his IPL career in 2015.

According to a media report, the trade is an all-cash deal comprising Mumbai paying INR 15 crore ($1.8 million approx.) as Hardik's salary and an undisclosed transfer fee to Titans. Once confirmed, this will be the biggest ever player trade in IPL history.

Following the previous auction, Mumbai had a remaining balance of only INR 0.05 crore (approximately $6000). Franchises are set to receive an additional INR 5 crore (approximately $600,000) for the upcoming auction. This implies that Mumbai must release player(s) to complete the Hardik trade. The deadline for player retention is November 26 at 4 pm IST.

Hardik Pandya has been leading Gujarat Titans since their debut in the IPL in 2022, they also won the title in debut season. In 2023, the Titans made to the IPL final for the second time in two seasons, where they came runners up to Chennai Super Kings.

It must be noted that if Hardik Pandya gets traded then he will become the third captain to be traded after R Ashwin moved from Punjab Kings to Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals traded Ajinkya Rahane also to Capitals, in 2020.

It will be interesting to see who will lead Gujarat Titans once Hardik Pandya moves back to Mumbai Indians.