In a stunning development, Mumbai Indians (MI) have reportedly paid a massive Rs 100 crore transfer fee to Gujarat Titans (GT) as part of the trade deal involving star all-rounder and former captain Hardik Pandya, who has switched sides to join MI for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The amount which is officially disclosed was 15 Cr.
But we all know it is not the case the player that led GT to win in their debut year and to the finals in the second year, will they let him go so easily. We are still waiting for official amount disclosure by either of the franchisees or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL governing council, but according to some sources it is said that this deal have been done for around 100 Cr.
Pandya, who led GT to their maiden IPL title in 2022 and a runner-up finish in 2023, was surprisingly traded to MI after the retention window closed on November 26. GT had earlier announced that they had retained Pandya along with Shubman Gill, who has now been appointed as the new skipper of the franchise.
The deal, which is said to be an all-cash transaction, has been officially approved by the BCCI and the IPL governing council, but the exact value of the trade has not been disclosed yet. However, some sources claim that Pandya could receive 50 per cent of the transfer fee as per the IPL rules.
Pandya, who made his IPL debut with MI in 2015, was part of the four-time champions until 2021, when he was released by the franchise due to his injury concerns and poor form. He then joined GT as their marquee player in the 2022 mega auction and revived his career with some stellar performances with both bat and ball.
Pandya’s return to MI is a huge boost for the franchise, which had a disappointing season in 2023, finishing sixth in the points table. MI have also named Pandya as their new captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, who had led them to five IPL titles.
Pandya will join the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Kieron Pollard, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav, who were retained by MI ahead of the 2024 IPL auction, which is scheduled to take place in Dubai on December 19. MI have also released some big names like Jofra Archer, Quinton de Kock and Hardik’s brother Krunal Pandya to free up their purse for the auction.
Pandya’s trade to MI has created a lot of buzz in the cricketing world, as many fans and experts have expressed their views on the deal. Some have praised MI for their smart move, while others have questioned GT’s decision to let go of their most valuable player. Pandya himself has not commented on the trade yet, but he is expected to address the media soon.
