Ex-KKR Director Highlights Ravindra Jadeja's Ban As He Issues Warning After Hardik Pandya's IPL Trade

The way Hardik Pandya’s sensational transfer to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans unfolded, it became very clear that he and the franchise were not on the same page. On Sunday (November 26), the India star sealed a sensational return to Mumbai Indians just two years after being released by the franchise.

Gujarat Titans had acquired the services of Hardik Pandya in 2022 and appointed him as their captain straightaway. In his very first season, the star allrounder led the team to the title before guiding it to a runners-up finish this year. However, the two highly successful seasons with Gujarat Titans did not stop Hardik Pandya from forcing his way back to Mumbai Indians.

The transfer concluded after the retention deadline was passed. While the speculations were rife that Hardik Pandya would return to Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans stunned the cricketing world by announcing that the allrounder was retained. The drama, however, was yet to end as Mumbai Indians eventually signed him up after the deadline was passed.

Ex-KKR director slams Hardik Pandya’s transfer:

The transfer of Hardik Pandya to Mumbai Indians has triggered a range of reactions, and a former Kolkata Knight Riders director has shared his views as well. While talking about the allrounder’s decision, he recalled an incident involving Ravindra Jadeja that took place in 2010.

13 years ago, Jadeja was banned by the IPL for a whole season after he did not sign his renewal contract with Rajasthan Royals while attempting to negotiate a deal with Mumbai Indians. With the allrounder going against the tournament’s trading and operational rules, IPL imposed a ban on him.

Speaking on Oaktree Sports’ YouTube show on the IPL 2024 retentions, former KKR director Joy Bhattacharjya said:

“I do not think it is a great idea for the tournament because something similar almost happened in 2010. Ravindra Jadeja did not play a particular season because he wanted to move on and the franchise had signed him. He had said that he doesn’t want to play for Rajasthan Royals anymore and so was banned for a year because they said that you cannot break the system.

“If a player suddenly says that take me from the auction but I do not want to play for you…and once you start encouraging this trend then it will not be a good idea to go down that road. That is why it was stopped in 2010. But in 2023, you have allowed this to happen with a big player. The truth of this is once you start allowing it, players will realise that if they can kick up enough of a fuss, the franchise will leave them…I don’t think this is a good precedent for the league,” he added.

Speaking further, he talked about the options that Gujarat Titans had after realizing that Hardik Pandya himself wanted to move back to Mumbai Indians.

“Gujarat had two options. They could have allowed him to leave, make some money out of trade and get some money for the organisation which is enough to retain another big name player. The other option is with Hardik saying that he wants to leave, I would get one season of mediocre performance from him. Then he will leave and I will get nothing from it. Gujarat hence couldn’t have made any other choices given the circumstances,” he said.