BCCI authorities confirm a 15 crore transaction for Hardik Pandya's return to MI from GT, while Cameron Green is moved to RCB.

Hardik Pandya was still a Gujarat Titan at the end of the IPL's retention deadline on Sunday evening. However, BCCI authorities acknowledged that an all-cash agreement (15 crore) for the India all-rounder's 'homecoming' to Mumbai Indians had been worked out. On Monday, an official statement is planned. MI reportedly launched another cash deal to let go of Australian all-rounder Cameron Green (17.5 crore) to Royal Challengers Bangalore in order to allow this move to go through.

Franchisees can trade until December 12, one week before the auction (December 19). That's all there is to it in terms of technicalities. Given the stakes involved in India's long-term T20 captain-in-waiting transferring to a franchise led by India's Test captain and one who has yet to be ruled out of the national T20 mix, the move has caused consternation in the wider cricketing ecosystem.

However, more than one IPL team, other than the two now in action, stated that they had heard that relations between Pandya and Gujarat Titans were strained even before the season began. Pandya, it was learned, had began talks with GT about his wish to move to MI, where he initially made a name for himself by being selected for the national team.

Pandya was released by MI prior to the 2022 mega auction because he was not in peak physical and mental condition. Pandya's leadership ambitions were given wings by the Ahmedabad franchise, which was then fresh to the IPL fold. He returned their trust by leading them to victory in 2022. Few expected Pandya and Gujarat to separate ways after another spectacular campaign that saw them finish runners-up in 2023.

With Pandya's departure confirmed, GT are poised to promote Shubman Gill to captain. Gill, an all-format international for India, had an outstanding IPL season, scoring 890 runs.