Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is on the brink of rejoining the Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The cricketer is poised to part ways with the Gujarat Titans, with whom he has experienced considerable success.
The anticipated transaction, rumoured to be an all-cash agreement, involves the Mumbai Indians paying a substantial sum of Rs 15 crore (approximately $1.8 million) to secure Hardik's services. Additionally, an undisclosed transfer fee will be disbursed to the Gujarat Titans. Notably, Hardik stands to earn up to 50% of the transfer fee.
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If the proposed trade materializes, it will mark a historic moment in the IPL, potentially becoming the most expensive player trade to date. Despite the absence of official statements from the involved franchises, the Mumbai Indians are confronted with the challenge of ensuring they possess adequate funds for the intricate transfer process.
However, this will not change the fate of current skipper and star player Rohit Sharma, who has won four trophies as the captain of the side. He is set to remain as the skipper of the team, a top source confirmed to Sports Tak on November 25. Pandya is also being groomed to lead the team after the end of the Rohit's tenure
Skipper Rohit, since 2013, has proven to be one of the most accomplished captains in the IPL while leading the Mumbai Indians, guiding them to victory in the tournament five times under his captaincy. Sharma, with a total of 5,611 runs, boasts one century and 42 half-centuries, securing the third-highest position on the all-time run-scoring list, trailing behind Virat Kohli (6,283) and Shikhar Dhawan (5,784).
Meanwhile, guided by Pandya's leadership, the Titans secured the championship in their inaugural IPL season in 2022 and made it to the final once again in 2023. During his tenure with the Titans, Hardik delivered noteworthy individual performances, amassing 833 runs in 30 innings with an impressive average of 41.65 and a strike rate of 133.49.
Additionally, he showcased his bowling prowess, taking 11 wickets with an economy rate of 8.1. Despite currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained during India's ODI World Cup campaign, Hardik remains a crucial and influential figure for the Titans.
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