Hardik Pandya joins MI camp post Champions Trophy win: Details
What's the story
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has linked up with the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad for the upcoming IPL 2025 season.
The team welcomed him with a message saying "The GUN has arrived," emphasizing his explosive skills that will strengthen MI's line-up.
Pandya is coming off a historic 2025 Champions Trophy title victory with Team India. The side defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Suspension details
Pandya to miss MI's season opener
Despite his new contract, Pandya won't play MI's first match of IPL 2025, against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
This is because of the one-match suspension he was handed for IPL 2024, following MI's final league match.
The ban carries over to the 2025 season as MI didn't qualify for the playoffs.
Rule violation
Suspension stems from over-rate violations
The suspension was imposed after MI was found guilty of three over-rate violations in IPL 2024.
As per league rules, a captain gets suspended for a match if his team receives three over-rate violations in a season.
This rule has now cost Pandya the start of his Mumbai Indians's tenure.
Personal triumph
Pandya reflects on Champions Trophy victory
Pandya was an integral part of India's Champions Trophy run.
He scored 99 runs with a strike-rate of 106.45 and took four wickets at an economy rate of 5.83.
He expressed satisfaction in making a turnaround from India's defeat to Pakistan in the 2017 Champions Trophy final.
"I can say that an incomplete dream is over today," he said after the win, stressing on putting team above self.
Performance
Pandya's IPL career
In his IPL career of 137 matches, Pandya has scored a total of 2,525 runs with 10 half-centuries. His strike-rate reads 145.61.
He has also contributed to his team's bowling department by taking 64 wickets with an economy rate of 9.09.
Besides representing MI, Pandya also led Gujarat Titans to the title in their maiden IPL season (2022). He returned the MI setup following the 2023 season, in a record all-cash trade.