The IPL 2024 Trade Window remains active, buzzing with rumors of players swapping franchises in cash-only deals or exchanges ahead of the IPL Player auction scheduled for December 19 in Dubai.
Among the franchises, Mumbai Indians have been the most active, successfully trading West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd from Lucknow Super Giants to initiate the transfer proceedings. However, their notable move occurred on the retention deadline day.
Reports initially hinted at Hardik Pandya’s possible return to his initial team, and the news was confirmed shortly after the retention deadline passed. Despite being included in the retained list by Gujarat Titans, Pandya was officially traded to Mumbai Indians.
In response to Pandya’s move, Mumbai Indians were compelled to trade Australian all-rounder Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore, boosting their auction purse by Rs 17.50 Crore.
While these trades were officially finalized, some observers criticized Mumbai Indians for their approach to Hardik Pandya, drawing parallels with Ravindra Jadeja’s attempt to leave Rajasthan Royals in 2012.
Controversy ensued when the Gujarat Titans CEO revealed that Mohammed Shami was also approached for a trade, without specifying the involved franchise. Speculation points towards Mumbai Indians as the party behind the approach.
IPL 2024 Trade Window: CSK Fans Accuse MI Of Illegal Trade Approach After Matheesha Pathirana Social Media Story
The latest criticism revolves around reports of Mumbai Indians allegedly approaching Sri Lankan youngster Matheesha Pathirana. This speculation intensified after Pathirana posted a story on his social media with the text “No Money Can Buy Loyalty.” Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans, considering Pathirana’s strong start to his IPL career under MS Dhoni, accused Mumbai Indians of leveraging their Sri Lankan connections to sway the young pacer.
Despite no direct mention of Mumbai Indians in Pathirana’s Instagram post, CSK fans condemned their rivals for attempting to recruit the Sri Lankan player during the trade window. Fans expressed disappointment and called the alleged move shameful.
There were even suggestions that Sri Lankan cricket legends Lasith Malinga and Mahela Jayawardene, associated with Mumbai Indians, may have approached Pathirana’s manager for a potential future move.
Several CSK fans recalled previous statements by top individuals in their franchise regarding Pathirana’s future in the IPL and international cricket. The 20-year-old Pathirana, who made his IPL debut for CSK in 2022, had an impressive season, claiming 19 wickets in 12 matches. Overall, he has secured 21 wickets in 14 IPL matches with an economy rate of 7.96.
Also read: Rishabh Pant to be MS Dhoni’s replacement at CSK in IPL 2025? Ex-India Star’s Big Claim
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