Hardik Pandya is attracting renewed interest from IPL franchises, with at least one team understood to have made fresh inquiries about the all-rounder. The 32-year-old is regarded as a high-value player when fully fit, although it is premature to say whether the interest will translate into a formal trade with Mumbai Indians.
Sources have revealed that there have been inquiries and approaches for Pandya to the Mumbai Indians management from multiple teams, with one particular franchise understood to have shown greater interest.
Pandya remains one of the premier all-rounders in world cricket, capable of making a significant impact in a match when fit and available. The Indian team management is keen to have him at his physical best for next year’s World Cup, with head coach Gautam Gambhir recently emphasising his importance to the side, particularly for his ability to score at a good strike rate and bowl at a good pace.
Beyond his batting and bowling, Pandya’s leadership is another factor in the IPL. He led Gujarat Titans for two seasons, winning the title in his first year and taking them to the final the following season. His stint as Mumbai Indians captain has been less successful, although there may have been other factors at play. A change of set-up could offer him an opportunity to rediscover his effectiveness as a leader.
Fitness remains a consideration with Pandya. He has not played competitive cricket since the IPL and recently picked up an injury that ruled him out of the India A squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia, starting Tuesday (October 6). As previously reported by Cricbuzz, franchises have to weigh which version of Pandya they are likely to get – the one that excelled with Gujarat Titans or the one that struggled during his stint as Mumbai Indians captain.
It is understood that the Mumbai Indians management has held discussions with a few franchises over a potential Pandya trade, including with and not limited to Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. With Zaheer Khan now at the helm at CSK, the general impression is that the possibility of a move there has receded, given the history between the two from their time together at Mumbai Indians.
However, interpersonal relations and professional equations can change with time and circumstances, and the current dynamic between Zaheer and Pandya can only be a matter of speculation. There may also not be too much time for all concerned to arrive at a decision on a potential Pandya trade. The deadline for retentions ahead of the mid-December auction in Goa is November 15. Normally, franchises plan for the season through their retentions and releases before executing those plans at the auction.
It is learnt that something more concrete could take shape over the next three to four weeks. The trading window is currently open. It will close one week before the auction, reopen a week after the auction and remain open until one month before the start of the season. It is unlikely that the process will take that long, although Mumbai Indians sources maintain that they are not in a hurry.
Generally, though, it is in the interest of all parties for a trade to be completed sooner rather than later, allowing franchises to maximise the value of their assets. Once the third season of a cycle is over, franchises can no longer leverage their assets through trades and can only retain or release the players.
