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New Delhi: In a sensational development, India’s T20I captain, Hardik Pandya, has officially returned to the Mumbai Indians in a high-stakes, all-cash trade-off with the Gujarat Titans. The much-anticipated move was concluded after 72 hours of intense drama surrounding the IPL retention window.
At 5 pm on Sunday, as the retention window closed, the Gujarat Titans made headlines by including their IPL-winning captain in the retention list. However, it was later revealed that the formal paperwork had not been completed, leading to the IPL and BCCI withholding approval for the transfer.
A senior BCCI official and IPL Governing Council member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, disclosed the details of the tripartite all-cash deal as per a PTI report. Mumbai Indians initiated the process by trading their all-rounder Cameron Green to RCB in an all-cash deal. This transaction provided the necessary funds for Mumbai Indians to finalize an all-cash deal with the Gujarat Titans and acquire the services of Hardik Pandya.
It is noteworthy that Cameron Green was acquired by Mumbai Indians for a significant Rs 17.5 crore in the last auction, and the funds required for the Hardik Pandya deal became available only after the completion of this transaction.
Hardik Pandya was initially picked by the Gujarat Titans in the 2022 auction from the list of players available for the two new franchises, GT and Lucknow Super Giants. His reported fee was Rs 15 crore, and under his captaincy, the team reached consecutive finals, winning the championship in its maiden year and narrowly losing to CSK in 2023.
MI With Long-Term Plans For Hardik Pandya
Mumbai Indians, known for their strategic team-building approach, have brought in Hardik Pandya with a long-term plan, considering the upcoming mega auction in 2025. The franchise, with a focus on creating a young core, faces an interesting decision regarding leadership, especially with Rohit Sharma, the current ODI and Test captain and the franchise’s biggest icon with five titles to his name.
Insiders had an inkling that after spending two years at the Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya desired to return to the Mumbai Indians, where he initially made a name for himself and played seven seasons. The allure of leading IPL’s most popular franchise with the largest fan base, coupled with the opportunity to build his brand as a national skipper in a specific format, played a significant role in Pandya’s decision.
(With Inputs From PTI)
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