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'Not A Good Precedent For IPL' - Ex KKR Director Criticises Pandya's Return To MI 

image-lpj8wl5dHardik Pandya (Twitter)

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) director of cricket Joy Bhattacharjya lambasted premier India allrounder Hardik Pandya's move back to Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of IPL 2024 by deeming it a "bad precedent" to be set by the league. 

As Pandya completed his famous return to MI colours in a one-way trade worth INR 15 crores following a two-year successful stint with Gujarat Titans (GT), Bhattacharjya recalled the time the IPL governing council banned spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja back in 2010 for leading similar private conversations with a franchise. 

Jadeja wanted to relinquish his playing role with Rajasthan Royals (RR) and move bases. However, a private arrangement of the same was taken as a breach of the established system and the IPL custodians barred the cricketer from taking part in the league's 2010 edition in India. 

Bhattacharjya asked when it couldn't be more clear that Pandya had indulged in similar conversations before head with MI about his release and trade from the Titans, why didn't the IPL governing council ban him from playing the next edition of the tournament?

Ex KKR Director Questions Pandya's MI Return

Speaking to OakTree Sports' YouTube show based on IPL 2024 trade, retentions and release prior to next month's auction in Dubai, Bhattacharjya said it's the wrong precedence to set for the league in allowing Pandya to move to MI colours on his desire. 

"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."