In a heartfelt statement that shows his long-standing connection to the Mumbai Indians (MI), Hardik Pandya expressed his commitment to the franchise after being retained for the IPL 2025 season. The five-time champions have kept Pandya alongside modern-day legends in Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah. Tilak Varma has also been retained at Rs 8 crore, signalling a strong vote of confidence in the team’s ‘Indian’ core.
Pandya, who took over captaincy from Rohit Sharma, didn’t shy away from acknowledging the profound impact MI has had on his cricket journey. “I think I have received a lot of love back, means the world to me. My journey started here and you know everything what I have achieved in my life has been part of Mumbai Indians.,” he said, reflecting on a relationship that has been transformative for both the player and the franchise.
IPL 2024 to forget for Pandya & MI
In sharp contrast to their historical dominance in the IPL, Pandya and MI had a very difficult 2024 season as the club placed last in the competition. It definitely had a surprising effect on everyone when Pandya left the Gujarat Titans (GT) to make a return to MI. When Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as captain, the move was controversial. Fans who had long associated Rohit with MI’s success were skeptical of the leadership change. The team’s poor performance in the 2024 season further intensified the criticism, with social media platforms becoming a battleground of opinions about Pandya’s captaincy and his decision to leave GT.
Ecstatic Hardik Pandya!
However, Pandya’s resilience and the team’s camaraderie seem to have been reinforced after the T20 World Cup 2024 heroics. “We are five fingers but one fist, that’s how I look at it. We are going to go with all guns blazing. Brotherhood. Friendship and at the same point of time, we going to back each other no matter what,” he emphasized, highlighting the team’s unity.
The retention list speaks volumes about MI’s faith in Pandya and the core group of players. With Pandya being retained at Rs 16.35 crore, alongside teammates like Bumrah (Rs 18 crore) and Suryakumar (Rs 16.35 crore), the franchise is clearly investing in a settled and experienced core.
Mumbai Indians (MI) retentions for IPL 2025
- Jasprit Bumrah – Rs 18 crore.
- Hardik Pandya – Rs 16.35 crore.
- Rohit Sharma – Rs 16.30 crore.
- Suryakumar Yadav – Rs 16.35 crore.
- Tilak Varma – Rs 8 crore.
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