One of the most shocking news has been coming from the world of cricket which states that Hardik Pandya is set to be released by Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL. Hardik Pandya, with whom Gujarat Titans have won one title and finished second in the previous season in just two IPL editions.
He is all set to be returned to the team, Mumbai Indians where he started his career as the potential allrounder for the future teams. According to reports, Gujarat Titans have promised to release Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans at an astounding amount of INR 15 crores ($1.8 million approx.) as Hardik Pandya’s salary. However, there is also an undisclosed transfer fee by IPL franchises from which Hardik Pandya is set to earn up to 50%.
If the proposed transfer happens in the future it will be the biggest IPL trade ever in IPL history. However, there is still a confirmation need to come from the official channels of both franchises regarding the trade of Hardik Pandya. The most difficult obstacle that Mumbai Indians still have in securing the place of Hardik Pandya is their purse. After the last auction, MI has only left with INR 0.05 crore, and as per reports, franchises will receive an additional INR 5 crore ($600,000 approximately) in their pockets for the upcoming auction. This implies that to complete the Hardik transfer, Mumbai must release a single player or players. The deadline for retention is November 26 at 4 p.m. IST.
In 2022, the Titans’ IPL maiden season, Hardik guided the team to victory and was named Player of the Match in the championship match against the Rajasthan Royals. For the second time in two seasons, the Titans advanced to the IPL final in 2023, finishing second behind the Chennai Super Kings. Under Hardik’s direction, the Titans had won the league championship in both seasons.
Hardik scored 833 runs in 30 innings over his two seasons with the Titans, averaging 41.65 and striking out 133.49. For them, he claimed 11 wickets at an economy rate of 8.1. Due to an ankle injury sustained during India’s ODI World Cup campaign, Hardik is currently sidelined.
If the deal goes through, Hardik will be the third captain to be dealt in 2020, following the trades of R Ashwin from the Punjab Kings to the Delhi Capitals and Ajinkya Rahane from the Rajasthan Royals to the Capitals.
The Titans franchise, which is controlled by global money management CVC Capital Partners, was given the option to select three players from the group of players that other teams released before the major auction when it first started in 2021. Shubman Gill was the Titans’ third-round selection, going for INR 7 crore. Hardik and Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan have signed for INR 15 lakh apiece.
Hardik started his IPL career at Mumbai, where he went on to become one of the top all-around players in the league. Hardik was a member of Mumbai’s championship-winning seasons in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 after being acquired for INR 10 lakhs in 2015 as an uncapped player.
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