Mumbai: Hardik Pandya’s seek for a approach out of Mumbai Indians has hit one other roadblock. TOI has learnt that the India allrounder explored a return to Gujarat Titans, the franchise he led to the IPL title in 2022 and the ultimate in 2023, however talks broke down after he insisted on being reinstated as captain.GT had been open to bringing again the 32-year-old, however unwilling to exchange Shubman Gill, now India’s Check and ODI captain. “Which crew wouldn’t need Hardik? However his captaincy situation killed the deal,” a supply mentioned.Pandya loved one of the best part of his IPL profession at Gujarat, the place he revived his worldwide profession and established himself as a pacesetter. Nevertheless, sources indicated that whereas GT valued his expertise, they anticipated him to return as a senior participant somewhat than captain.His future at MI stays unsure after one other disappointing season. Mumbai completed ninth in IPL 2026, extending their title drought to 6 years. Hardik’s personal returns had been modest: 206 runs at 22.88 and 4 wickets in 10 matches, with again spasms proscribing him to solely 10 appearances.Since changing Rohit Sharma as MI skipper in 2024, Pandya has endured a turbulent spell. MI completed final that season, recovered to succeed in the playoffs in 2025 earlier than slipping again to ninth this 12 months. The transfer from Rohit to Hardik additionally triggered a hostile response from sections of the franchise’s fan base.With Ajinkya Rahane retired and Rishabh Pant stepping down as LSG captain after successive poor campaigns, Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Tremendous Giants might emerge as attainable locations if Pandya stays eager on a management position.Including to the uncertainty, MI batting coach Kieron Pollard had stopped in need of guaranteeing Hardik’s continuation as captain after the franchise endured one other horror season in Could.“Sure, it won’t have gone in addition to he would have needed, what we might have needed, however I wouldn’t query something right now. Twelve months in the past, we completed third. Now once more, we completed ninth. These are the inconsistencies we should deal with. We’ll sit and discuss, lick our wounds and hopefully come again stronger in 12 months’ time. He was attempting. All of us had been attempting. We tried every and every thing to offer one of the best alternative for him to guide the franchise and do effectively,” Pollard had replied when quizzed about Hardik’s management at MI.
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Hardik’s comeback probably vs Afg
For now, Pandya’s focus is on returning to full health. He has been coaching at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, bowling as much as 10 overs and batting extensively within the nets. Sources mentioned he’s anticipated to be obtainable for India’s house T20I sequence in opposition to Afghanistan, starting in New Delhi on Sept 13.
