After being moved from the Gujarat Titans (GT) to the Mumbai Indians (MI) in an all-cash deal, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has rejoined his former Indian Premier League (IPL) team. In addition to an unknown transfer fee, the five-time champions paid INR 15 crore for his services.
After being initially identified by MI’s talent development wing and acquired for INR 10 lakh at the 2015 auction, the Gujarat-born cricket player’s life has now fully circled around this deal. Pandya, who came up through the ranks during MI’s heyday and was instrumental in their four championship wins in six years, didn’t look back from that point on.
Hardik Pandya did not make an impression in the first two seasons but gained prominence in 2017 thanks to his many important hits.
He finished the season with 250 runs at an average of 35.71 and a strike rate of 156.25. In the season, he also took six wickets, which helped MI retain him for an incredible INR 11 crore ahead of the 2018 mega auction.
Hardik Pandya achieved his biggest scoring seasons in 2018 and 2019, with 260 and 402 runs, respectively. In two seasons, he took 32 wickets, completing his role as an all-around player.
Hardik Pandya was acquired by the team for INR 11 crore after being signed for three seasons, although he was later released by MI ahead of the 2021 edition. The all-round player, who only managed 127 runs from 12 games this season, couldn’t quite live up to the total, though. Thus, the star all-rounder’s fortunes were turned around when MI released him once more before the big auction in 2022.
When the then-28-year-old joined the recently established Gujarat Titans of the Indian Premier League as its skipper for INR 15 crore, he had enormous success. With his outstanding performance—he scored the most runs for his club, 487 runs from 15 matches—Pandya guided Gujarat to an IPL victory in their inaugural season. Along with taking eight wickets at an economy of 7.28 and an average of 27.75, the seamer made history by being the second skipper to win the trophy in the IPL’s inaugural season.
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