 |
| IPL |
Hardik Pandya is on the verge of leaving Gujarat Titans to return to Mumbai Indians, his IPL starting point in 2015. The all-cash deal, reportedly worth INR 15 crore ($1.8 million approx.), has been uncovered by ESPNcricinfo ahead of the 2024 IPL player auction on December 19.
The potential trade could be the most significant in IPL history, yet neither franchise has officially commented. Mumbai faces a challenge due to a limited purse of INR 0.05 crore ($6000 approx.) after the last auction, with an additional INR 5 crore ($600,000 approx.) available for the upcoming auction. To accommodate the Hardik trade, Mumbai may need to release player(s) before the retention deadline on November 26 at 4 pm IST.
Hardik led the Titans to victory in their IPL debut season in 2022 and guided them to the final in 2023, finishing as runners-up. During his two-season tenure, he amassed 833 runs in 30 innings with an average of 41.65 and a strike rate of 133.49, also taking 11 wickets with an economy of 8.1. Currently injured, he sustained an ankle injury during India's ODI World Cup campaign.
If the trade materializes, Hardik will be the third captain traded in IPL history, following R Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane in 2020. Titans, owned by CVC Capital Partners, picked Hardik and Rashid Khan for INR 15 crore each during their entry into the IPL in 2021.
Mumbai, where Hardik initially rose to prominence as an uncapped player in 2015, retained him until 2021. Surprisingly released before the 2022 mega auction, Titans seized the opportunity, signing him as captain after Mumbai chose to retain Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Kieron Pollard.
How Twitter Responded to the Trade News Surrounding Hardik Pandya -
"But honestly I don't want him after whatever he has done with Rohit"
Seems like Hardik Pandya is really coming back to Mumbai Indians.But honestly I don't want him after whatever he has done with Rohit. pic.twitter.com/GTPMzvTLPp— ANSHUMAN🚩 (@AvengerReturns) November 24, 2023
Enthusiastic fans eagerly anticipate Rohit Sharma's captaincy with great excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season.
As far as I know hardik Pandya, he didn't accept the trade until he got Captaincy and 8-10 crs. extra. Rohit Sharma will play under Hardik Pandya's captaincy. THIS IS CINEMA. https://t.co/juOtzNkr8y
— Pr𝕏tham (@Prxtham_18) November 24, 2023
GT will only consider trading him for either Rohit or Bumrah?
Hardik won't leave GT at any cost until n unless MI is offering him captaincy ,Gujjus love him n GT franchiseGT will only Trade him with Either Rohit Aur Bumrah pic.twitter.com/348fbADkoE— Rahul_🚩 (@149off225i) November 24, 2023
What’s Happening? 😬
If #HardikPandya is going to MI, he must’ve asked captaincy as his first priority and probably MI has agreed to it.Ig we might see #RohitSharma stepping down as the MI captain and if he steps down there he will definitely step down as Indian Captain too. What’s Happening 😬! pic.twitter.com/PgrRHfr3It— Naman (@Mr_unknown23_) November 24, 2023
I find it hard to believe that Mumbai Indians acquired Hardik Pandya through a trade. This move could be risky in a potential Mega Auction next year?
I still cannot believe Mumbai Indians have got Hardik Pandya in a trade. This could be a dicey move if there is a Mega Auction next year.
— Hriday (Fan-Account) (@Hriday1812) November 24, 2023
Currently many questions arise, such as whether Hardik can maintain the successful captaincy he exhibited with the Gujarat Titans. Additionally, if Rohit steps down, can MI uphold the value and fanbase linked to Rohit Sharma's leadership? A cricket enthusiast suggests that if Rohit were to relinquish captaincy, it would be perceived as a significant betrayal for MI fans, emphasizing their unwavering support for Rohit Sharma and his leadership, He wrote:
If Hardik Pandya's trade forces Rohit Sharma to leave his captaincy, it would be a substantial betrayal for MI and Rohit Sharma's fans, potentially shaping the course of Rohit Sharma's career definitively. pic.twitter.com/npHQrs03Yl
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) November 24, 2023
The IPL 2024 auction is set for December 19th, and the trading window closes on November 26th. Preceding the auction, significant player transfers include Romario Shepherd to Mumbai Indians, Devdutt Padikkal to Lucknow Super Giants, and Avesh Khan to Rajasthan Royals.
Thank you for visiting Cricketxpedia.com. We are committed to providing you with the latest updates and news articles. Stay tuned, and thanks for reading.
© https://www.cricketxpedia.com/
