Ravichandran Ashwin on Hardik Pandya’s prospective return to Mumbai Indians: ‘If true, MI have struck gold’ | Cricket News

In the glory days of Mumbai Indians, the five-time Indian Premier League champions stood as a well oiled machinery that had all the departments covered. From swashbuckling openers in the likes of Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock to picture perfect death bowling executioners in Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult.
A cherry on top of the cake was the presence of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was part of four winning seasons with the perennial title holders. There were a few eyebrows raised when MI had let go of Pandya in 2021. Rumors of his return back to his first IPL franchise only makes sense.

India and Rajasthan Royals off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared his views on the prospective return. “If it’s true, Mumbai Indians have struck gold. So if it’s true, it’s a complete cash deal from whatever I read. There’s no player that Mumbai is giving, Mumbai Indians have never given players on trade. I don’t think it has ever happened. But how does that XI look if Hardik goes back, who’s an MI grown player,” the off-spinner said in a video on his Instagram.
Per ESPN Cricinfo, Pandya is set to return to Mumbai in an all-cash deal with the franchise set to pay 15 crores to Gujarat Titans, which includes the all-rounder’s salary and an undisclosed transfer fee, of which 50% can go to the all-rounder.
If the trade does happen, it would be only a third time in IPL hory that a franchise captain gets traded after Ajinkya Rahane and Ashwin himself.
“The only difference between us and Hardik is that he’s an IPL-winning captain which completely changes the balance for even Gujarat Titans,” Ashwin said in his video.

Pandya had led the Titans to a first-IPL title in their maiden season in 2022 and also captained the franchise to another final this year, in which they fell short of the Chennai Super Kings in a last ball thriller.