Hardik Pandya might make a one-way, all-cash move to Mumbai Indians.
It’s not official yet, but from the sound of things, it looks like a done deal, or slam dunk, as they say in business. It looks like Hardik Pandya will be traded in one direction, from the Gujarat Titans to the Mumbai Indians. There’s a feeling that this transfer is happening soon even though the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the participating franchises are the only ones who will know the precise details of the deal.
The player’s viewpoint is vital to this development, and it has been gathered that Hardik is eager to relocate to Mumbai. This move would never have been possible without his interest. Though the Titans’ management may still be able to veto the deal, it appears that they have finally given in to the transfer. This will be a mega trade, the largest transfer agreement in Indian Premier League (IPL) history, as Cricbuzz previously reported.
The Mumbai Indians will now have to pay Pandya the entire INR 15 crore that his fee is set at, while the Gujarat Titans will receive the same amount in their salary cap. In addition, Pandya’s release will earn the Ahmedabad-based team a transfer fee, and theoretically, the player could be eligible for as much as half of the remaining funds. The BCCI and the franchises will ultimately decide whether or not this transaction is made public.
The unfounded reports that Rohit Sharma would be traded to the Gujarat Titans have been debunked by the Mumbai Indians’ announcement that they will not be receiving any players in exchange. Mumbai Indians will have to make room in their salary cap if they want to sign Pandya. There are rumors that they may release Jofra Archer (INR 8 crore) and Cameron Green (INR 17.5 crore) in order to raise money for the transfer and auction. Each franchise is already given an additional INR 5 crore before the auction, for a total of INR 100 crore.
The BCCI hasn’t said anything as of yet because it’s a dispute between two franchises. They have not received any official word yet, but by Saturday night or Sunday—the final day for player releases and trades—they probably will.
