Hardik Pandya is back to Mumbai Indians. So it’s really happening. It has shocked everyone, including Ravichandran Ashwin.
The rumors had been on social media for a couple of days but were not taken with any pinch of salt. However, on Saturday, ESPNcricinfo reported that Hardik Pandya, the Gujarat Titans captain, is set to return to Mumbai Indians in a player-for-cash trade.
A report in ESPNcricinfo said that “the trade is an all-cash deal comprising Mumbai paying INR 15 crore ($1.8 million approx.) as Hardik’s salary and an undisclosed transfer fee to Titans. Hardik stands to earn upto 50% of the transfer fee.”
“It’s Incredible”: R Ashwin said, adding that MI have “struck gold” with this deal of getting an Indian pace-bowling all-rounder who led Gujarat to the IPL win last season in trade for nothing but only cash.
In a video, uploaded on his Instagram, R Ashwin said: “If it’s true Mumbai Indians have struck gold. So if it’s true and it’s a complete cash deal from whatever I read. There’s no player that Mumbai is giving, Mumbai Indians have never given players on trade. I don’t think it has happened ever. But how does that XI look like if Hardik goes back who’s an MI grown player.”
Hardik Pandya is an IPL-winning captain which completely changes the balance for GT: Ashwin
R Ashwin himself was the first IPL captain to be traded from Punjab Kings to Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals traded Ajinkya Rahane to Delhi in 2020.
Now, Hardik Pandya will become the third IPL captain to be traded, but, Ashwin points out, the difference in the three is that Hardik has led GT to an IPL title win, and another IPL final this season.
“It’s incredible. The only difference between us and Hardik is that he’s an IPL winning captain which completely changes the balance for even Gujarat Titans. It will be interesting to see whether another Pandya might.. oh sorry sorry. But what Mumbai needs to do now is because Hardik Pandya is a 15-crore player, they have to free up their purse to make sure they come under auction budget,” he added.
The issue for MI is that they have only 5.05 crore in their purse now – after the top up of INR 5 crore to every franchise for IPL 2024 auction purse. This means that MI will release a couple of expensive picks – most likely Jofra Archer – to make purse for Hardik.
