According to the sources and cricket highlights, Hardik Pandya is in talks with Mumbai Indians, the 5-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winners, about a surprise return in what may be the most talked-about deal in the league's history.

Hardik Pandya started his IPL career with MI in 2015, and now various reports reveal MI is in talks with Pandya to bring him back. Mumbai Indians is planning to plot him as a long-term captain. It's believed to be a cash-only transaction, with MI willing to pay 15 crore for the superstar all-rounder. Confirmation of whether or not the deal will go through could come only in the last hours before the trading day deadline on Sunday.

If the deal goes through, it will be the biggest player transaction in IPL history. However, neither franchise has made any public comments about the move. The most difficult task for Mumbai is to have an adequate trade purse. Mumbai has only INR 0.05 crore ($6000) remaining after the last auction. Franchises will receive an additional INR 5 crore ($600,000 approx.) for the upcoming auction. This simply means that Mumbai must release a player or players in order to complete the Hardik transfer. The retention period ends on November 26 at 4 p.m. IST.

If Hardik Pandya's return to Mumbai Indians looks grim, the Mumbai franchise may be forced to release a player like Ishan Kishan (15.25 crore) or possibly Jofra Archer (8 crore). Gujarat Titans is also said to be interested in Cameron Green and other talent.

Moreover, in terms of cricket highlights India and news, if the deal goes through, Hardik will be the third captain to be traded, following R Ashwin from the Punjab Kings to the Delhi Capitals and Ajinkya Rahane from the Rajasthan Royals to the Capitals in 2020.

Hardik Pandya led the Gujarat Titans and won the IPL title in 2022. It was his first season as a franchise captain. Also, Hardik was named Player of the Match in the final against the Rajasthan Royals. In 2023, the Titans reached the IPL final for the second time in two seasons, finishing second to the Chennai Super Kings. Under Hardik's leadership, the Titans performed exceptionally well in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Hardik scored 833 runs in 30 innings for the Titans over two seasons, with an average of 41.65 and a strike rate of 133.49. He grabbed 11 wickets with an economy of 8.1 for them. Hardik is currently out with an ankle injury sustained during India's ODI World Cup campaign.

When the Titans franchise, controlled by global money manager CVC Capital Partners, debuted in 2021, they were given the option of selecting three players from the pool of players released by other franchises before the big auction. Titans signed Hardik Pandya and Afghanistan allrounder Rashid Khan for INR 15 crore each, with Shubman Gill coming in at INR 7 crore as their third pick.

Hardik Pandya is one of the most successful all-rounders in IPL history. He has 2309 runs in 123 matches at a strike rate of 145 and an average of 30.38. Despite missing two complete seasons owing to injuries, he has taken 53 wickets with the ball.