Hardik Pandya Back With Mumbai Indians For IPL 2024?
IPL 2024 sees major releases, trades, and Hardik Pandya's return to Mumbai Indians in a cash deal.
The IPL 2024 auction is scheduled to take place in Dubai on 19th December 2023. All 10 franchises are set for the auction. However, before the auction, 26th November 2023 was the last day for all the teams to decide which players they wish to retain and release. The IPL 2024 retention deadline day witnessed the release of numerous players, with a total of 85 individuals released from their respective franchises. But there is another option of trading (exchanging) a player with another team. It is player to player exchange or through payment. While the deadline for announcing retentions has ended, the trading window remains open until seven days before the IPL auction. Mumbai Indians' possibility of signing Gujarat Titan captain Hardik Pandya was the biggest talking point. However, Gujarat Titans announced that they have retained Hardik Pandya. But there are reports that Pandya has been traded to his former side Mumbai Indians. The deal is set to be an all-cash deal which means that MI have not released any player to GT. Pandya’s fee for the year is ?15 crore. The deal has been formally approved by the BCCI and IPL but the value of the trade is yet to become clear. MI were rumoured to be releasing a few big names to free up funds for bringing Pandya back in the fold. MI released fast bowler Jofra Archer. There were reports that MI will release Cameron Green to generate funds for getting Hardik Pandya, However, Green has managed to be in the MI retention list. Pandya was widely speculated to make a spectacular return to MI as it was with MI that he began his journey in the IPL. Pandya was with the MI team that won four of the five IPL titles that the franchise has won. He was released by MI before the 2022 season after injuries derailed his career. Pandya was then unavailable for international selection as he focussed on his recovery and rehab, and made a return to professional cricket with the Gujarat Titans. All the teams have retained their star players like MS Dhoni is still with CSK, and Virat Kohli is still with RCB. It is going to be a tough auction as some talented entrants like Rachin Ravindra and Travis Head are set to enter the IPL. Meanwhile, the ICC had suspended Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with immediate effect after “serious breach of its obligations as a Member. Now, after meeting with the SLC representatives on 21st November 2023, ICC has allowed Sri Lanka to take part in bilateral affairs and ICC events. However, the ICC will control the SLC and the funding that goes to it. Sri Lanka, in the meantime, lost the hosting rights for the 2024 U19 World Cup. South Africa, is the new host for the tournament to be held in January. Keep watching ISH News, as we will keep giving you cricket updates.
