All-rounder Hardik Pandya has made a return to his initial Indian Premier League team, the Mumbai Indians, after a cash-based trade from the Gujarat Titans. The Mumbai Indians, a five-time IPL champion, acquired Pandya’s services for a significant sum of INR 15 crore, in addition to an undisclosed transfer fee.
This move represents a return for the cricketer from Gujarat, first identified by MI’s talent development team. In the 2015 auction, Mumbai Indians signed Pandya for his starting price of INR 10 lakh. After that, Pandya’s career picked up during MI’s successful period, making a substantial contribution to their four title victories in six years.
In the initial two seasons, Pandya had a steady start, but it was in 2017 that he gathered everybody’s attention with notable performances. Scoring 250 runs at an average of 35.71 and an impressive strike rate of 156.25, his abilities prompted MI to retain him for a substantial amount of INR 11 crore before the 2018 mega auction. Once again, Pandya finds himself back in MI.
Hardik Pandya’s performance during 2018 and 2019
During the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Pandya delivered notable performances, having a record of 260 and 402 runs, respectively, while also securing a total of 32 wickets. These achievements established him as a versatile player capable of making significant contributions with both bat and ball.
After spending three seasons with MI, Pandya was let go before the 2021 edition. Nevertheless, the franchise brought him back for INR 11 crore. Regrettably, Pandya found it challenging to meet expectations, managing only 127 runs in 12 matches. As a result, MI released him once more before the 2022 mega auction, signifying a notable shift in his IPL trajectory.
Later, he became the captain of the newly-established IPL team, Gujarat Titans, for a substantial amount of INR 15 crore. Hardik Pandya’s effective leadership and outstanding individual performance played a key role in Gujarat Titans winning the IPL in their first season. He was the top run-scorer for his team, scoring 487 runs in 15 matches, and also contributed as a bowler, taking eight wickets with an average of 27.75 and an economy of 7.28. This accomplishment made Pandya the second captain in IPL history to win the trophy in the team’s inaugural season.
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 |
