Hardik Pandya returns to MI, Cameron Green moves to RCB

The much-anticipated transfer of Hardik Pandya to Mumbai Indians has been successfully completed. In a noteworthy one-way, all-cash transaction, the 30-year-old all-rounder has officially returned to the franchise he won four titles with.

Simultaneously, Mumbai Indians have bolstered their financial position to afford the Pandya acquisition by trading Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore in another all-cash transaction to the tune of INR 17.5 crore, the league value of the Australian all-rounder.

This financial manoeuvre not only facilitates the completion of the Pandya trade with Gujarat Titans but also positions the five-time champions with substantial resources for the upcoming IPL 2024 auction scheduled to take place in Dubai on December 19.

According to insiders from the BCCI and IPL, a formal approval has been granted for these cash-only trades. While the specific value of the transaction remains undisclosed, it is noteworthy that Pandya's league fee for the year stands at INR 15 crore.

The execution of these trades unfolded with some dramatic twists and turns as the retention deadline concluded at 5 PM IST on Sunday.

Both Pandya and Green were initially listed as retained players by their original franchises - Gujarat and Mumbai. However, the transfers were executed after the retention deadline had passed.

As reported by sources on Saturday, the trading window is open till one week before the auction, trades can be executed till December 12. But all three franchises concluded the transfer late on Sunday evening.

The official announcement came through an IPL media release on Monday (November 27), confirming Pandya's move to Mumbai Indians and Green's shift to the Royal Challengers.