Reports: MI paid ₹100 crore to GT to trade Hardik Pandya

The trade deal between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans to secure the services of star all-rounder Hardik Pandya ahead of the IPL 2024 has taken the cricket world by storm. Pandya will be leading the five-time champions in the 17th edition of the tournament.  

With the move finalised, there has been a report by The Indian Express coming forward with speculation that Mumbai Indians paid a hefty transfer fee for the all-rounder. No specific figure was mentioned but it has been estimated that INR 100 crore was paid to Gujarat Titans to let go of Pandya.

It was also learnt that one of the biggest factors that brought Hardik Pandya to Mumbai Indians was the mega auction of the tournament in 2025. The five-time champions are looking to establish their core team for the future and with former skipper Rohit Sharma in the twilight of his career, opting for Pandya as someone who can lead the side looked to be a viable decision.

Furthermore, the sale of Pandya helped Gujarat Titans in several ways as well. Back in 2021, CVC Capital paid INR 5625 crore to be part of the IPL, while MI is run by a business family, the same is not the case for GT. It is worth noting that the trade deal of Pandya saw Gujarat’s purse go up by INR 15 crore. 

The earnings from the Pandya deal will be visible on the CVC Capital's balance sheet at the end of the financial year and this is expected to result in a spike in its valuation.

With Mumbai Indians winning their last IPL title in 2020, the side will be keen on a good performance in the 17th edition of the tournament after a couple of forgettable years, and it could be interesting to see how Pandya’s arrival helps the five-time champions.