‘Gratitude to fans, team, and management’ - Hardik Pandya pens heartfelt note after Gujarat Titans exit

Hardik Pandya has extended his gratitude towards the fans and management of Gujarat Titans (GT) after he was traded to his previous Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians (MI). Pandya's namename was included in Titans' retained players' list, however, the much-anticipated trade was announced shortly after the closure of the IPL retention window on November 26.

Gujarat picked Hardik before the 2022 IPL mini-auction from the pool of available players for the two new franchises, GT and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Appointed as their captain, the all-rounder led the Titans to secure the title in their debut season. He guided the Titans to their second consecutive IPL final in 2023, wher his team lost to MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the summit clash on the reserve day of a rain-marred clash in Ahmedabad.

“I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the fans, team, and management at Gujarat Titans. Being part of the team and leading it has been an absolute honour, and I am immensely thankful for the love and encouragement my family and I have received as a player and as an individual. The memories and experiences with GT will forever hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for the unforgettable journey,” Hardik wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

See Hardik Pandya's X post:

🙏 pic.twitter.com/anZXpXJhrC

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) November 27, 2023

The Mumbai Indians opted to trade Cameron Green to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to make room for Hardik. The team captained by Rohit Sharma paid a hefty INR 17.5 crore to acquire the Australian all-rounder in the last IPL auction. Mumbai Indians, a franchise known for its meticulous team-building techniques, brought in Hardik on with an eye towards the future as Hardik could be seen leading the franchise in the times to come.