Though hailing from Gujarat, Hardik Pandya has developed a strong affinity for Mumbai, considering it his second home. Having spent two seasons with his home team, the Gujarat Titans (GT), Pandya has now returned to the Mumbai Indians (MI), where he initially rose to prominence as a promising all-rounder in the realm of T20 cricket.
The premier all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, was part of the Mumbai Indians’ title-winning team on four occasions between 2015 and 2021. Returning to his IPL home, Pandya rejoined Mumbai Indians for IPL 2024 in an all-cash deal with the Gujarat Titans before the mini-auction in Dubai. Additionally, Pandya succeeded veteran Rohit Sharma as the captain of Mumbai Indians for the new season. Notably, Pandya served as Rohit’s deputy at the 2023 ICC World Cup.
Hardik Pandya Made A Big Statement On MI Return Ahead Of IPL 2024
An ankle injury ended Pandya’s stint at the ICC event last year prematurely. Recently recovered from his long injury hiatus, Pandya made a comeback to competitive cricket. Speaking to Star Sports before his captaincy debut at MI, Pandya emphasized that he feels like he’s returned home after two years. Hardik and his team will face GT in their IPL 2024 opener on March 24. “I’m deeply thankful for the immense love and support from fans. It’s a blessing beyond words,” Hardik expressed.
Hardik added: “Returning to Mumbai Indians feels like coming back to where it all began. From my journey as a young lad in Baroda to Mumbai, this city has taught me growth, instilling in me humility and resilience. The city’s love and teachings are invaluable to me, shaping me into the cricketer I am today. Mumbai always challenges you to be better and now with the IPL, I have returned home after 2 years,”
For the unversed, in a strategic move, Mumbai Indians secured Hardik Pandya’s return to the Wankhede Stadium, trading Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a hefty sum of INR 17.5 crore. Pandya began his IPL journey as a rookie with Mumbai Indians in 2015, signing for a mere INR 10 lakh. After leaving Mumbai, he led Gujarat Titans (GT) to consecutive IPL finals.
“Coming from Baroda, it was a life-changing experience for me when I remember 2015’s IPL. That year was pivotal in my career. Representing Mumbai Indians amidst seasoned players was a turning point for me. When you get a chance to play with such established players on such a big platform, your life changes. I was fortunate enough that I was able to contribute on a much larger scale to the knockout games. Bagging two ‘Man of the Match’ awards during crucial knockout games was surreal. It marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey for me, it’s a chapter I’ll always cherish,” Hardik concluded.
