(Image Source: HT Photo)
[Saba Sports News] Celebrated all-rounder Hardik Pandya has made a return to his initial IPL team, Mumbai Indians (MI), following an all-cash exchange from Gujarat Titans (GT). The five-time IPL champions, MI, have paid INR 15 crore along with an undisclosed transfer fee to secure his talents.
This move signifies a full-circle moment for Pandya, whose cricketing journey began with MI, who initially purchased him for a modest INR 10 Lakh in the 2015 auction. Pandya’s career flourished with MI, where he became a key player in their success, contributing to four IPL victories over six years.
Pandya’s rise to prominence began in 2017, marked by his critical performances and scoring 250 runs at a striking rate of 156.25, coupled with taking 6 wickets. His impressive performance led MI to retain him for a substantial INR 11 crore before the 2018 season.
Pandya’s peak years were in 2018 and 2019, where he excelled as a versatile all-rounder, scoring significant runs and taking numerous wickets.
Despite being retained for three seasons, Pandya’s form dipped in 2021, leading to his release and subsequent reacquisition by MI at INR 11 Crore. However, he failed to perform as expected, leading to his release before the 2022 mega auction, which significantly altered his career trajectory.
Hardik Pandya’s IPL salary over the years:
Season |
Price |
2015 |
10 Lakh |
2016 |
10 Lakh |
2017 |
10 Lakh |
2018 |
11 Crore |
2019 |
11 Crore |
2020 |
11 Crore |
2021 |
11 Crore |
2022 |
15 Crore |
2023 |
15 Crore |
2024 |
15 Crore |