'No Smoke Without Fire' - Ex-Indian Opener Reacts On Hardik's MI Return

image-lpdl4fxyPandya last played for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021 (Twitter)

Aakash Chopra questioned Hardik Pandya's rumoured comeback to play for Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by asking with what reasons would the successful Gujarat Titans (GT) be considering such a move. 

Chopra highlighted Titans becoming champions of the IPL 2022 and finishing runners-up in IPL 2023 under Pandya's captaincy and further queried why would the premier India all-rounder consider going back to MI colours when he is not going to be made captain and has risen in stature through his GT stint. 



The veteran commentator believes unless Rohit Sharma is also calling quits for MI and moving to Titans, Pandya's reported shift back to the five-time champions makes for great curiosity, especially since he was enjoying grand success for the Titans, whose captaincy acted as a springboard for him to become a potential next India captain. 

Chopra Questions Pandya's Return To MI For IPL 2024

Pandya's move back to MI was reported by ESPNcricinfo, which stated the franchise is in talks with its Gujarat counterpart for an all-cash deal worth INR 15 crores plus the "undisclosed transfer fee", 50% of which will be given to the player apart from his fresh contract. 

If the deal materialises, it will be the biggest-ever player transfer made in the history of the IPL ahead of the 2024 auction scheduled in Dubai. MI will have to swell their their existing purse of INR 0.05 crores left after the previous auction by releasing multiple players to secure Pandya's services. An additional budget of 5 crores shall also come in handy.   

"I have not heard the end or the start of this story properly. So I am waiting and watching that what happens there because it seems like something will happen. There is no smoke without fire and there is smoke for sure that Hardik is going. However, will Rohit Sharma go to GT? Is that a possibility - I don't know."