'Feels good to be back' - Hardik Pandya after officially getting traded to Mumbai Indians

In a recent development, star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been traded from his current franchise Gujarat Titans to his former team, Mumbai Indians. Pandya, who previously captained the Titans, will reunite with Mumbai Indians for IPL 2024.

Notably, Pandya led Gujarat Titans to victory in the 2022 IPL edition, securing the championship trophy. However, in the subsequent 2023 season, his team finished as runners-up. Despite their best efforts, they were defeated in the final by MSD-led CSK, preventing them from securing back-to-back titles.

Expressing his excitement about the historic trade, Hardik took to his X handle and shared, "This brings back so many wonderful memories. Mumbai. Wankhede. Paltan. Feels good to be back."

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians eagerly welcomed Hardik back into their fold.

“We are thrilled to welcome Hardik back home! It’s a heartwarming reunion with our Mumbai Indians family! From being a young scouted talent of Mumbai Indians to now being a team India star, Hardik has come a long way and we’re excited for what the future holds for him and Mumbai Indians!” said Nita Ambani.

Expressing happiness about Hardik's return, Akash Ambani added, "Seeing Hardik back at Mumbai Indians makes me very happy. It is a happy homecoming. He provides great balance to any team he plays. Hardik’s first stint with the MI family was hugely successful, and we hope he achieves even more success in his second stint,” Akash Ambani added.

Hardik Pandya's return is poised to fortify a team that boasts five IPL titles and features prominent players such as Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ishan Kishan. The Titans announced Shubman Gill as their new captain and their statement clarified the reason for parting ways with their captain, Hardik.

“As the first captain of Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya has helped the franchise deliver two fantastic seasons that resulted in winning one IPL championship and one appearance in the final. He has now expressed a desire to return to his original team Mumbai Indians. We respect his decision and wish him all the very best in his future endeavours,” said Vikram Solanki, GT's Director of Cricket.