IPL Auction: KKR Ex-Boss Slams Hardik Pandya's Mumbai Indians Switch; Ashwin Applauds

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya's sensational trade to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans has become a hot topic among cricket fans and followers ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 edition.

In a conversation with Oaktree Sports, former Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) director Joy Bhattacharjya criticized Hardik Pandya in the context of the spirit of the game.

The cricket board had stopped such trading in 2010 when Ravindra Jadeja didn't want to play for Rajasthan Royals despite being in the contract with the side, and a year's ban was imposed on him, Bhattacharjya said. But in 2023, everyone has closed their eyes as a big player and team are involved, he added.

Notably, 13 years ago, a ban was imposed on Ravindra Jadeja by the IPL for a whole season after the cricketer had refused to sign his renewal contract with Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra-owned Rajasthan Royals. The left-hander was in talks with the Mumbai Indians to negotiate a better deal at the time, as per the earlier reports.

"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," said former Kolkata Knight Riders'(KKR) director. No one should break the system, Bhattacharjya further added.

"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," he added.

However, India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin backed Hardik Pandya's move to join Mumbai Indians. He said Mumbai has picked up a brilliant player who is leading the Indian Cricket Team in the T20 format and the man whose team clinched an IPL trophy in 2020 for Gujarat Titans and made them finalists in the last edition.

Comparing Mumbai Indians and Hardik Pandya's relationship to a father and son duo, the spinner added, "It's like calling up your son and telling him, 'Hey, here's some money. Go live the world. Go get an MBA degree.' So, he went to GT, became a leader, got his MBA degree, and is coming back home".