In what is set to be one of the most significant transfers in the Indian Premier League (IPL), all-rounder Hardik Pandya has made a return to the Mumbai Indians following a completed trade with his previous franchise, the Gujarat Titans.
The confirmation of the deal came on Monday, after the deadline for teams to announce their retained and released player lists had passed. Although the deadline for franchises to declare the list of players released and retained was on Sunday, teams had the flexibility to engage in trades until December 12, just one week before the official auction date.
To facilitate Hardik Pandya's move, Cameron Green, the Australian all-rounder who was acquired for a substantial amount in the last auction, has shifted from the Mumbai Indians to the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The IPL and the respective franchises have officially confirmed this trade.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had set a deadline of November 26 for teams to submit the names of players they intended to retain. This allowed them to commence the preparations for the IPL auction scheduled to take place in Dubai on December 19. It's worth noting that trades between teams do not pose a hindrance to the auction process. Following the submission of player rosters by IPL teams, franchises now have a clearer understanding of each team's auction budget and the players available for trade.
"I just want to say how excited I am to be joining RCB, Andy flower and the team. I can't wait to see you guys soon at the Chinnaswamy stadium," he said after signing for the Bengaluru-based side.
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