New Delhi: Star cricketer Hardik Pandya is poised to make a return to the Mumbai Indians in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, marking a reunion with the franchise where he began his IPL journey back in 2015. According to reports, Pandya will be leaving the Gujarat Titans, and the auction is expected to be an all-cash deal.
As per ESPNcricinfo, the Mumbai Indians are set to pay Rs 15 crore (approximately $1.8 million) as Pandya’s salary and an undisclosed transfer fee to the Gujarat Titans. Notably, Pandya stands to earn up to 50 percent of the transfer fee. If this auction materialises, it could potentially be the most significant player trade in the history of the IPL.
Despite growing rumours, sources within the Titans camp have expressed concern over potentially losing Pandya, given his outstanding performances in the last two seasons. Both franchises involved in the auction, the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Titans, have not made any official statements regarding the reported transfer.
This move also positions Hardik Pandya to become the third captain to be traded in the IPL, following R Ashwin’s shift from the Punjab Kings to the Delhi Capitals and Ajinkya Rahane’s trade from the Rajasthan Royals to the Capitals in 2020.
One notable challenge for the Mumbai Indians will be ensuring they have sufficient funds for the trade. After the last auction, the team was left with just Rs 5 lakh in their purse. However, with franchises set to receive an additional Rs 45 crore for the upcoming auction, the Mumbai Indians may need to release players to finalise the Hardik Pandya trade.
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