IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya retained by Gujarat Titans amid reports of Mumbai Indians move

Hardik Pandya has been retained by the Gujarat Titans (GT) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 amid reports.

That he is moving to the Mumbai Indians (MI). However, the all-rounder can still be traded to the five-time champions as the trading window closes one week before the auction to be held on December 19.

Even after the auction ends, the trade may happen before the start of the next edition of the T20 tournament. Earlier, it was learned that MI paid INR 15 crore (approximately $1.8 million) to secure Pandya’s services. But as per the latest development, Hardik remains with the Titans.

Hardik made a move to the Titans in 2022 and led them to glory in their very first appearance in the IPL. He also became the Player of the Match when GT beat the Rajasthan Royals in the final of the 2022 edition of the IPL.

In 2023, Hardik’s Titans finished as the runners-up after losing to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Hardik started his IPL career with MI back in 2015 and was a part of their squad for six seasons. He also won the IPL in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. But after an indifferent season in 2021, MI released him.

In 123 IPL matches, Hardik has scored 2309 runs at an average of 30.38 and a strike-rate of 145.86 with 10 half-centuries to show for his efforts. He has also picked up 53 wickets and has shown his skills time and again with the ball.

Hardik recently donned the national colours in the 2023 World Cup where India finished as the runners-up. Hardik played in the first frew matches before an ankle injury during the match against Bangladesh ruled him out of the competition.