Hardik Pandya was brought into the Gujarat Titans squad before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, and he captained the Titans to the title victory in his first-ever run as a captain in IPL. Even in 2023, Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans to the Finals of the IPL, where they fought toe-to-toe against the Chennai Super Kings before losing the match.
The Gujarat Titans captain had it all, and still, he decided to leave his teammates and join the Mumbai Indians in the trade of IPL 2024. Fans are wondering about the exact reason behind Hardik Pandya’s departure from GT. Some crazy fan theories have emerged on social media channels, but this article lists the most probable reasons which could be the reason why Hardik Pandya left the GT to join MI.
# Reason Number 1
Hardik Pandya’s IPL journey started with Mumbai Indians, and he has often highlighted that he is very grateful for what MI has done for him. Maybe the loyalty towards the Mumbai Indians made Hardik Pandya leave GT.
# Reason Number 2
Hardik Pandya was retained for Rs 15 Crore by Gujarat Titans, but the news has broken out that in addition to Rs 15 Crore, Pandya is receiving an undisclosed amount of money as his transfer fee. This could potentially be the reason behind Pandya’s trade. At the end of the day, IPL is more business than cricket, and therefore, this is a solid, valid reason behind Pandya’s trade.
Also read: Massive Twist! Hardik Pandya Traded to Mumbai Indians in All-Cash Deal, Cameron Green to RCB
# Reason Number 3
Mumbai Indians are probably the most decorated franchise in IPL history, and Hardik Pandya could have been offered the captaincy of the team. Rohit Sharma is reaching the zenith of his career, and it seems that he will hang his boots up before the start of IPL 2025, and then Hardik Pandya will assume the role of full-time captain of Mumbai Indians. On the other hand, Hardik Pandya could be appointed as captain in IPL 2024 itself.