IPL teams are showing increased interest in Hardik Pandya; at least one team has made a new inquiry about the all-rounder. When healthy, the 32-year-old is a valuable player, but it is too soon to tell if the interest will result in a formal deal with the Mumbai Indians.
Reports state that within the following three to four weeks, the problem may become more apparent. The trade window is currently open and will close one week prior to Goa’s mid-December auction. A week after the auction ends, it will reopen and stay open until four weeks prior to the start of the season. The November 15 retention deadline, which offers little opportunity for postponement, must also be taken into account by franchises.
When healthy, Pandya can alter a match and is still one of the best all-rounders in cricket. India wants him to be at his best for the World Cup the following year, and head coach Gautam Gambhir recently emphasised his importance to the team due to his rapid pace with the ball and ability to score goals. Pandya is still unsure about his level of fitness.
Since the IPL, he has not participated in professional cricket, and a recent injury has prevented him from playing for India A in the three-match ODI series against Australia that begins on Tuesday, October 6. Franchises must consider which Pandya they are purchasing—the one who flourished with the Gujarat Titans or the one who struggled with captaincy at the Mumbai Indians, as previously reported by Cricbuzz.
The Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are two of the teams that the Mumbai Indians have reportedly been in contact with. The franchise with the highest level of interest has not been revealed. There is some complexity to the CSK problem. Zaheer Khan is thought to hold a senior position at the Chennai Super Kings, and his lengthy affiliation with the Mumbai Indians adds a factor that might affect the course of talks between the two teams. It is unclear at this point whether that connection helps or hinders a possible transaction.
Any team hoping to acquire Pandya through the trade route will need to move more quickly as the November 15 retention deadline approaches and the Goa auction is set for mid-December. Mumbai Indians seem happy to hear proposals without feeling pressured to make a decision right away.
