Negotiations between Hardik Pandya and Gujarat Titans over a potential return to the IPL franchise fell through after Pandya insisted on being made captain, according to sources cited by the Times of India. GT were reported to be willing to re-sign the 32-year-old allrounder but unwilling to remove Shubman Gill, currently India's Test and ODI captain, from the captaincy role.
Hardik Pandya's reported return to Gujarat Titans collapses over captaincy demand
Negotiations between Hardik Pandya and Gujarat Titans over a potential return to the IPL franchise fell through after Pandya insisted on being made captain, according to sources cited by the Times of India. GT were reported to be willing to re-sign the 32-year-old allrounder but unwilling to remove Shubman Gill, currently India's Test and ODI captain, from the captaincy role.
Pandya led Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in 2022 and to the final in 2023 before moving to Mumbai Indians, where he replaced Rohit Sharma as captain ahead of the 2024 season.
Under Pandya, Mumbai Indians finished last in 2024, recovered to reach the playoffs in 2025, then slipped to ninth place in IPL 2026 — extending the franchise's title drought to six years. Pandya himself scored 206 runs at an average of 22.88 and took four wickets in 10 matches in 2026, with back spasms limiting his appearances.
His move into the MI captaincy in place of Rohit Sharma also drew hostile reactions from parts of the franchise's fan base, according to the report.
MI batting coach Kieron Pollard stopped short of guaranteeing Pandya's continuation as captain after the 2026 season. 'Yes, it might not have gone as well as he would have wanted, what we would have wanted, but I wouldn't question anything at this time. Twelve months ago, we finished third. Now again, we finished ninth. Those are the inconsistencies we will have to address. We will sit and talk, lick our wounds and hopefully come back stronger in 12 months' time. He was trying. We all were trying. We tried each and everything to give the best opportunity for him to lead the franchise and do well,' Pollard said when asked about Pandya's leadership.
The report notes that Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants could emerge as possible destinations for Pandya if he remains keen on a captaincy role, given that Ajinkya Rahane has retired and Rishabh Pant stepped down as LSG captain after successive poor campaigns.
On the fitness front, Pandya has been training at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, bowling up to 10 overs and batting extensively in the nets. Sources said he is expected to be available for India's home T20I series against Afghanistan, which begins in New Delhi on September 13.
- Hardik Pandya has not been quoted directly; his own position on the reported trade talks or his future plans is not on record in the source.
- Gujarat Titans have not issued an official statement or been quoted on the reported negotiations.
- Mumbai Indians have not commented officially on Pandya's future at the franchise.
- The timeline of when the reported GT talks took place is not specified.
- It is not established whether formal trade or retention mechanisms under IPL rules have been triggered, or what the precise contractual situation is.
- No details are given on what terms, beyond captaincy, were discussed between Pandya and Gujarat Titans.
Read the original at The Times of India