Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar wants the BCCI to reveal the financial details of IPL trades. His call comes as fresh reports link Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya with a move away from the franchise.
Sunil Gavaskar has urged the BCCI to bring more clarity to player trades in the Indian Premier League. The former India captain wants the board to publish the money involved once teams complete a deal.
Gavaskar raised the issue amid growing talk about Hardik Pandya’s future at Mumbai Indians. Reports have linked the all-rounder with other IPL teams, including Kolkata Knight Riders. However, Mumbai Indians, Pandya and the IPL have not confirmed any new trade.
Writing in his Mid-Day column, Gavaskar said fans learn when a player changes teams. The financial terms, however, stay with the two franchises, the player and the BCCI.
This lack of public information creates a concern for the other teams, he said. They cannot check how a deal affects a franchise’s squad spending limit. Gavaskar therefore wants the IPL to put the numbers in the public domain.
Hardik Pandya trade buzz: Key points
| Topic | Current position |
|---|---|
| Hardik Pandya’s status | He remains a Mumbai Indians player. No new trade has been confirmed. |
| Reported interest | Media reports have linked him with Kolkata Knight Riders and other IPL teams. |
| Gavaskar’s concern | The full financial terms of a trade stay with the teams involved, the player and the BCCI. |
| Gavaskar’s demand | The IPL should publish the key financial figures after confirming a trade. |
| Why the figures matter | Public numbers would show how a deal affects each team’s squad spending limit. |
Gavaskar calls for clear IPL trade figures
Each IPL franchise must build its squad within a fixed spending limit. Player trades can change how much money a team has available before the auction.
Gavaskar’s point is simple. The BCCI may know the full details and approve a deal, but the other franchises do not see the figures. That gap can lead to questions about whether every team has followed the same rules.
He also said the IPL’s global standing makes openness more important. Gavaskar called it the world’s leading T20 league and said “full transparency” would protect it from avoidable criticism.
His comments do not accuse any team of breaking the rules. Instead, they ask the BCCI and IPL officials to make the process easier for everyone to follow.
Hardik Pandya rumours remain unconfirmed
Hardik Pandya’s Trade has drawn attention because he has already featured in one of the IPL’s biggest trades. Gujarat Titans sent him to Mumbai Indians before the 2024 season. Mumbai later named him captain in place of Rohit Sharma.
Pandya had led Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in 2022. He also took the side to the final in 2023. His return to Mumbai therefore became a major move, both on and off the field.
The latest reports have again placed his future under the spotlight. Kolkata Knight Riders have appeared most often in the discussion. Other teams have also received mentions in media reports.
For now, the story remains trade talk. No franchise has announced an agreement for Pandya. Any claim about his next team, the fee or the terms should therefore remain a report, not a confirmed development.
Recent trades add weight to the debate
Player movement has become an important part of IPL planning. Teams no longer wait for the auction to reshape their squads.
In June 2026, the IPL confirmed a high-profile deal between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. Rishabh Pant returned to Delhi Capitals, while Kuldeep Yadav joined Lucknow Super Giants.
Such moves can affect team balance and auction plans. They also attract strong interest from supporters. Gavaskar believes the league should match that public interest with clear financial information.
If the IPL accepts his suggestion, every confirmed trade could come with its key figures. Teams and fans would then see how the move changes each franchise’s spending position.
Until officials announce a move, Pandya remains a Mumbai Indians player. The figures behind any future trade would become the next test of Gavaskar’s call for openness.
Gavaskar’s warning has shifted part of the focus away from one possible move. The larger question now concerns how much the IPL should reveal when teams trade major players.
Gavaskar also raises player fitness concern
In the same column, Gavaskar spoke about the injuries suffered by several Indian players. He questioned limits on the number of balls that bowlers deliver during practice.
He argued that players need preparation that matches the demands of a game. In his view, match fitness should matter more than gym-based fitness targets.
That concern remains separate from the Pandya trade reports. Still, both comments ask the BCCI to review key parts of how it manages Indian cricket.
