Xtra Time Web Desk: In a dramatic turn of events, Shubman Gill is likely to lead the Gujarat Titans in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. This decision comes after the departure of the team’s former captain, Hardik Pandya, who has returned to the Mumbai Indians in an all-cash deal. Pandya, who led the Titans for the past two years, played a pivotal role in guiding them to an IPL title in their debut season in 2022.
The trade involving Hardik Pandya was completed after the IPL retention window closed on Sunday. While the Titans had named Pandya in their retention list, the formal paperwork was still pending at that time, causing some uncertainty. However, sources confirm that the deal has now been formalized, with Pandya officially becoming a Mumbai Indians player.
The trade-off involved a tripartite all-cash deal, with Mumbai Indians trading their all-rounder Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in exchange for the necessary funds to secure Pandya’s services. Green had been acquired by MI for a substantial Rs 17.5 crore in the previous auction, and the funds from his trade were crucial for finalizing the deal with Gujarat Titans.
Hardik Pandya, who was initially picked by the Titans before the 2022 auction, played a pivotal role in leading the team to consecutive IPL finals, winning the championship in their inaugural year and narrowly losing to Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling encounter in 2023.
Now, Shubman Gill will have the opportunity to showcase his leadership skills as he takes on the captaincy for the Gujarat Titans in the upcoming season.