‘I do not think it is a great idea for the tournament’ - Ex-KKR Team Director Joy Bhattacharjya lambasts Hardik Pandya’s trade to MI

Ahead of the auction of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), some trade news made a major stir as Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya was traded to five-time champion Mumbai Indians in an all-cash deal. The sensational move will not only boost MI’s lineup; it could make them true title contenders once more.

With the trade move causing a major stir, former Kolkata Knight Riders team director Joy Bhattacharjya came forward to lambast Pandya’s move to Mumbai Indians. He took the example of Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and tried to force a move to Mumbai Indians in 2010 from Rajasthan Royals.

“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 he was banned for a year because they said that you cannot break the system,” Joy Bhattacharjya said on the Oaktree Sports YouTube Channel.

“If a player suddenly says, 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,” he added.

I don't think this is a good precedent for the league: Bhattacharjya

Further, he opined that Hardik Pandya’s move to Mumbai sets an example for other big players that if they make enough of a fuss, then they can make a move for them happen, which sets a bad example.

“In 2023, you have allowed this to happen with a big player. The truth of this is that 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,” Joy Bhattacharjya said.