by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan:
In a significant turn of events, star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has chosen to rejoin his former franchise, Mumbai Indians, ahead of the IPL 2024. Initial reports had suggested that Pandya would be retained by Gujarat Titans, but in a surprising twist, he has opted to return to Mumbai Indians.
Earlier speculations hinted at Pandya leaving Gujarat Titans to rejoin Mumbai Indians for the upcoming season. Despite media reports claiming that GT had retained the all-rounder, the deal apparently faced delays for undisclosed reasons.
In a sudden development, Cricbuzz reported that a successful all-cash deal took place between Gujarat and Mumbai as soon as the retention lists were made public. This means that Pandya will once again don the Mumbai Indians jersey, where he initially made a name for himself in the IPL.
After making his IPL debut, Pandya became a vital part of the Mumbai Indians squad, contributing significantly to their four title victories with his exceptional all-round skills. However, a dip in form led to his departure from the team, and Cameron Green was brought in as a replacement.
Subsequently, Pandya joined Gujarat Titans and promptly led them to a title in his first stint as captain in the IPL. In the 2023 season, he guided them to the final, where they faced a gripping showdown against Chennai Super Kings but narrowly missed out on the trophy.
