In what comes as a sensational swoop, Indian cricket team all-rounder and Gujarat Titans skipper, Hardik Pandya, was traded from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024, say reports on Sunday, November 26, 2023
Despite the news of Hardik Pandya being retained by Gujarat Titans (GT), the all-rounder has been traded to Mumbai Indians in a sensational swoop for the Rohit Sharma-led side. As per the report in Cricbuzz, Pandya has returned to MI in an all-cash transaction where he won four IPL titles. (IND Vs AUS Blog | IPL Trading Highlights)
Furthermore, Mumbai Indians have also strengthened their financial position by selling Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for 17.5 crore, the report stated.
The report further states that the trading windown is still open for one week till the auction date and franchises can exchange trades till December 12. However, MI, RCB and GT have concluded a late transfer with only official annoucements pending.
Following the inclusion of Gujarat Titans into the competition in 2022, Pandya was picked up by the Ahmedabad-based franchise and was also made the captain of the side.
He led GT to title success in their debut season and helped them finish as the runners-up in IPL 2023. Speculations were rife that Pandya could rejoin Mumbai Indians, ending his two-year association with the Titans ahead of the IPL 2024.
While the Mumbai side named Rohit Sharma as their captain for IPL 2024, England pacer Jofra Archer has been released.
Archer is still recuperating from an elbow surgery.
The move will make Pandya one of the few captains to be traded in the IPL, joining the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane, who were traded in 2020.
(With PTI inputs)