The cricketing world was abuzz with the major news on Sunday, November 26, as Hardik Pandya made his comeback to Mumbai Indians.
Pandya made a significant move, sealing a one-way trade to Mumbai as he bid farewell to Gujarat for a heartfelt homecoming. Meanwhile, in a separate one-way trade, RCB secured all-rounder Green from MI in an all-cash transaction. Prior to this, Rajasthan Royals engaged in a two-way trade, swapping batter Devdutt Padikkal with Lucknow Super Giants’ pacer Avesh Khan.
Initially, the official broadcaster announced that the all-rounder had been retained by Gujarat Titans. However, hours later, news emerged stating that he had been formally traded to Mumbai.
This change caused a lot of consternation among supporters, and rightfully so. Many questioned the feasibility of the trade, given that the retention date had already gone. But, as it turned out, the trade was indeed possible because the trading window was still open when the papers were signed. The trading window will stay available until a week before the mini-auction, due to take place on December 19 in Dubai, UAE.
It’s vital to note that any trades completed between teams within the trade window are deemed genuine. Consequently, Hardik Pandya’s departure from Gujarat Titans became a reality. There were also worries about cash deals for players beyond the retention deadline, but Mumbai Indians had to part ways with Cameron Green, trading him to Royal Challengers Bangalore to facilitate Hardik’s INR 15 crore contract.
In essence, the open trading window allowed the 30-year-old to return to the organization where he had previously won four titles during his six-year stay. This transfer made Hardik Pandya the third captain ever to be traded from a franchise, behind Ajinkya Rahane (Rajasthan Royals to Delhi Capitals) and Ravichandran Ashwin (Punjab Kings to Delhi Capitals).
Also Read: Gujarat Titans Announces Shubman Gill As Their New Captain For IPL 2024
With Hardik’s departure, Gujarat Titans needed a new leader, and they announced 24-year-old Shubman Gill as their skipper for the 2024 edition of the lucrative tournament.
In his stint with Gujarat Titans, the sensational Hardik delivered a stellar performance, amassing an impressive 833 runs with an average of 41.65 and a striking batting rate of 133.49. Not just a powerhouse with the bat, the local icon showcased his all-round prowess by snagging 11 wickets, maintaining an economy of 8.10 for the franchise based in Gujarat. Making his captaincy debut, Pandya led his team to clinch the trophy in the inaugural season, and to add to his accolades, he was crowned the Player of the Match in the IPL 2022 final. Notably, Gujarat Titans secured the top spot in the IPL standings for both the 2022 and 2023 seasons under Hardik’s leadership.
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