Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians, and Gujarat Titans were involved in the biggest-ever trade deal in the IPL history as the 30-year-old Baroda all-rounder returned to his “home” franchise, announced on Monday, a day after the deadline day for the IPL 2024 retentions.
There were various kinds of reactions to this massive news of Hardik Pandya returning to the Mumbai Indians after two years of leading Gujarat Titans.
Former India batsman and now commentator, Aakash Chopra’s tweet – apparently – on this trade has gone viral, in which he probably took an indirect dig at Pandya for choosing money over legacy.
Hardik had captained GT with aplomb for two seasons, taking them to two consecutive finals, winning one and losing one. It has been learned that a huge amount of trade fee was paid by MI to GT, and Hardik himself is entitled to 50 percent of that trade fee. Plus, not to forget, the lucrative endorsement offers Hardik Pandya might have already gotten from MI.
While Hardik Pandya was building something at GT, he halted that and now has moved back to MI, where he won 4 IPL titles from 2015 to 2021.
As the news was confirmed, Aakash Chopra tweeted: “Once in a while life would give you an opportunity to choose between money and legacy. Whatever you choose will define you for the rest of your life.”
Mumbai made space for the budget for Hardik (who had a salary of INR 15 crore) by trading away Cameron Green (INR 17.5 crore) to RCB.
“Hardik Pandya expressed a desire to return to his original team Mumbai Indians”
Meanwhile, Vikram Solanki, the Director of Cricket at Gujarat Titans, revealed that it was Hardik who wanted to return to MI.
“As the first captain of Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya has helped the franchise deliver two fantastic seasons that resulted in winning one IPL championship and one appearance in the final. He has now expressed a desire to return to his original team Mumbai Indians. We respect his decision and wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.” Solanki said.
