IPL 2024: How can Mumbai Indians afford Hardik Pandya if Gujarat Titans agree to trade deal?

5 months ago 150

What could be the biggest transfer in Indian Premier League history, Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Hardik Pandya is linked to a sensational move back to Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of IPL 2024 Auction as per reports. Ahead of IPL 2022, MI released Hardik Pandya and at the newly found franchise GT, Hardik excelled following his return from a long-term injury, winning IPL title in his debut season and then reaching the final in the next season. While a homecoming will be sweet for MI fans, the question is can Mumbai Indians afford a trade with GT?

Hardik Pandya earns a whopping Rs 15 Cr at Gujarat Titans. With the addition of Rs 5 Cr in the auction purse, MI will have Rs 5.5 Cr sitting in their purse for the IPL 2024 auctions. But to get Hardik back, Mumbai Indians need to release players to make the trade deal happen before 4 PM on Sunday, Nov 26. Take a look at the possibilities the Mukesh Ambani-owned franchise could consider for a trade with Hardik Pandya.

Things are now changing in IPL 💰💵#HardikPandya #GujaratTitans #GT #MumbaiIndians #MI #IPL2024 #IPL #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/DgJOdqUKVu

— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) November 25, 2023

How can MI afford Hardik Pandya?

Option 1: Release Cameron Green:

Mumbai Indians paid a mammoth Rs 17.5 cr for Australian star Cameron Green, the most expensive signing for the side till date. Bagged for this massive amount after creating waves in the international stage, Green could be a possible release for MI from their squad in return for Hardik Pandya. Nevertheless, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the side deciding to buy back Green for a lesser price after releasing him.

Green’s release would mean MI would pay 15 cr to Hardik Pandya and yet have Rs 2.5 cr left in their purse.

Option 2: Retain Green, Release Ishan Kishan

MI’s option number 2 could be the release of wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan, with of course buy back on their agenda. Mumbai Indians had to shell out Rs 15.25 Cr for the Jharkhand youngster.

That will free up MI’s purse for Hardik Pandya. But they need to release players like Jofra Archer to even try for Ishan at the auction.

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Option 3: Release Jofra Archer & Chris Jordan

Another option is to release injured Jofra Archer (8 Cr) as well as struggling Chris Jordan (2 Cr). That would free up Rs 10 Cr. With Rs 5.5 Crore already in the bank, that should be enough to trade Hardik Pandya in. Releasing Riley Meredith (Rs 1.5 Cr) would further increase the fund.

Ashwin drops his two cents on Pandya’s trade

Veteran Indian spinner and RR star Ravichandran Ashwin dropped a video on his social media channel, opining on the rumours doing the rounds about Hardik’s trade. The spinner claimed that MI could have struck gold if the deal was through, adding that there have been only three instances in IPL history where the captain has been traded.

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A post shared by Ashwin (@rashwin99)

Ashwin even joked about how ‘another Pandya’ might make his way to GT in exchange for Hardik. In what is an insightful input to the fans, MI will now have to release players worth Rs 9.95 cr in order to accommodate HP.