Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Hardik Pandya to return to Gujarat Titans, despite recent reports suggesting negotiations between the player and the franchise had stalled. Ashwin believes Pandya's history with the Titans and his successful stint there make a reunion the most likely outcome for the all-rounder's next IPL chapter.
According to reports, Hardik reached out to Gujarat Titans earlier in the week regarding a potential move, but discussions faltered over his demand for the captaincy role. Ashwin, speaking on the matter, expressed confidence that despite this setback, Pandya would eventually find his way back to the franchise where he enjoyed his most successful period in the league.
"It's not a bad thing that Hardik has reached out to GT. He really enjoyed his time there and the best phase of his career came at GT, be it batting or captaincy. I still have a hunch that he'll go to GT," Ashwin said, speaking on his YouTube channel.
Why Ashwin backs Pandya's return to Gujarat Titans
Pandya's tenure at Gujarat Titans was marked by significant achievements. He captained the franchise to the IPL title in 2022 and led them to the final in 2023, establishing himself as a key figure in the team's early success. After those two seasons, Pandya moved to Mumbai Indians, where he spent the last two seasons.
The 2026 IPL season proved challenging for both Pandya and Mumbai Indians. The franchise finished ninth in the standings with only four wins from fourteen matches, a disappointing campaign that intensified speculation about potential transfers and squad changes heading into the next season.
Ashwin acknowledged that while Pandya may not secure the captaincy role given that Shubman Gill currently leads the franchise, the move would still represent a positive step for the all-rounder. Gill has captained Gujarat Titans for the last two seasons and has established himself as the team's leader.
"Hardik can really find a happy place to go back if MI trade him to GT and they get a good package in return. He has had happy memories with GT. He might even want to prove a point that despite not winning with MI this time, he can win again with GT. That tenacity and fight are what define a cricketer," Ashwin said.
Ashwin further elaborated on why Gujarat Titans represents an ideal destination for Pandya. He highlighted the franchise's strong squad composition and the quality of the batting conditions at their home venue as additional factors that could make the transition appealing.
"GT is a great place for him to go to, given that it's a good batting wicket there and he has had great memories there. The team is also very good, with Shubman Gill captaining very well the last two years. So I don't think he'll get the captaincy. But if given an opportunity, Hardik should consider going back to GT, and I feel there is a good chance of it happening," Ashwin said.
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While Pandya has been linked with other franchises including Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, Ashwin's assessment suggested that Gujarat Titans remained the most probable destination. The off-spinner's confidence in this prediction was rooted in Pandya's proven success at the franchise and the mutual benefits a reunion could offer both player and team as they looked ahead to the 2027 IPL season.