Fresh off a win at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Hardik Pandya chose to move ahead in the game and prepare for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. The Indian all-rounder, who played a key role for Team India in the marquee ICC event, will return as the skipper for Mumbai Indians. The five-time IPL champs finished last in the 2024 season, and he may be looking to make things right after the team's poor outing.Hardik Pandya Joins Mumbai Indians Straight After India's Champions Trophy 2025 WinTeam India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has returned to India after the Men in Blue's grand finish at the ICC Champions Trophy final. The Rohit Sharma-led side emerged victorious in the competition, and they are now back from Dubai to be with their families and loved ones. The Indian team has been oozing dominance in white-ball cricket after they won the T20 World Cup in 2024 and then the Champions Trophy title in 2025. But Hardik Pandya displayed his commitment towards the game and has officially joined the Mumbai Indians' camp as they prepare for the upcoming IPL 2025 season.After returning from Dubai, all-rounder Hardik Pandya has returned to his base in India and joined his IPL side, the Mumbai Indians. The five-time IPL-winning franchise welcomed the Indian all-rounder with a catchy caption, with the MI skipper bearing a huge smile after coming off the CT win. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mumbai Indians (@mumbaiindians) "The GUN has arrived.." Mumbai Indians captioned the image on their social media platforms.Also Read: Australia Announce Grand Plan To Celebrate 150 Years Of Test Cricket, Virat Kohli's Happy Hunting Ground To Host Iconic MatchHardik Pandya Will NOT Be A Part Of IPL's El ClasicoThe Mumbai Indians will begin their campaign against one of their biggest rivals, the Chennai Super Kings, in the IPL 2025 season. The match is deemed as the Indian El Clasico. However, MI wouldn't have Hardik Pandya leading the side against the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led CSK. The Mumbai Indians were found guilty of over-rate violations, and the IPL sanctioned them as per the rules. The league's norms stated that if the team made three over-rate breaches in the IPL 2024 season, the captain would be suspended for a match. It happened after MI's final league-stage clash.As a result, Hardik Pandya has been issued a suspension for a match. Given that MI failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2024, the ban would be carried forward in the 2025 season.The Mumbai-Chennai clash in the IPL 2025 season will take place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Also Read: PCB Likely To Go All Out Against ICC, Apex Cricketing Body's Decision Of Allowing Pakistan To Host Champions Trophy Backfires