Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Gujarat Titans (GT), has officially announced that their captain, Hardik Pandya, will be returning to his first franchise, Mumbai Indians (MI), following a trade between the two teams. Pandya had a successful two-year stint with GT, leading the team to win the IPL trophy in their debut season in 2022 and finishing as runners-up in the second season earlier this year.
In another trade, MI all-rounder Cameron Green has been traded to Royal Challengers Bangalore. Green, who was bought for a whopping ₹17,50,00,000 at last year’s auction, played in 16 matches for MI. The Australian had an impressive start to the IPL, scoring an unbeaten century and two half-centuries, and also taking six wickets. Both trades have been executed based on the existing player fees.
Vikram Solanki, Director of Cricket for Gujarat Titans, commented on Pandya’s move, saying, “As the first captain of Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya has played a crucial role in the franchise’s success, winning one IPL championship and reaching the final in the second season. He has expressed his desire to return to his original team, Mumbai Indians, and we respect his decision and wish him all the best for his future endeavors.”
Akash Ambani, co-owner of Mumbai Indians, expressed his happiness about Pandya’s return, stating, “Seeing Hardik back at Mumbai Indians makes me very happy. It is a happy homecoming. He brings great balance to any team he plays for. Hardik had a highly successful first stint with the MI family, and we hope he achieves even greater success in his second stint.”
Pandya’s return to Mumbai Indians reunites him with players like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and the rest of the team. Pandya initially rose to prominence with MI and made his debut for the Indian cricket team in 2016. He played a crucial role in MI’s four IPL victories between 2015 and 2021.
Nita M. Ambani, owner of Mumbai Indians, expressed her excitement about Pandya’s return, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Hardik back home! It’s a heartwarming reunion with our Mumbai Indians family! From being a young talent scouted by Mumbai Indians to now becoming a star of Team India, Hardik has come a long way, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for him and Mumbai Indians!”
Overall, the trade between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians sees the return of Hardik Pandya to his original franchise, bringing joy to both the player and the team.
