When is a player exchange possible, and what does it entail?
It occurs when a player, during the trading window, transfers from the IPL franchise that acquired him to another organization. A trade might be a player-for-player exchange or an all-cash transaction. The player-trading window opens one month after a season concludes, remains open until one week before to the auction date, and then closes one month before the next season begins, as per IPL regulations. Thus, the auction is set for December 19, and the trade window will remain open until December 12; it will reopen on December 20 if necessary, up to one month before the 2024 season starts.
Has the IPL always allowed for player trades?
Indeed, the trading window opened in 2009 when Ashish Nehra was traded to the Mumbai Indians for Shikhar Dhawan, who was then traded to the Delhi Daredevils (now the Delhi Capitals).
A one-way trade: what is it?
A player transfers entirely for cash from Team A to Team B. In the event of Hardik Pandya, the Gujarat Titans’ signing fee prior to the 2022 player auction, shall be reimbursed to Team A by Team B in an amount equal to the player’s auction price. In the past, there have also been all-cash transfers in the Indian Premier League. One such trade occurred in November 2022 when the Kolkata Knight Riders acquired Lockie Ferguson and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
A two-way trade: what is it?
In essence, a player is being traded between teams, with one club paying the other’s price difference.
Are players able to influence trades? Can they start it off?
Yes, the player must give his permission before being traded. Regarding Hardik, ESPNcricinfo has learned that the Mumbai Indians and Titans had talks right away following the 2023 IPL to determine whether a player swap or an all-cash deal would be made. Hardik had “expressed a desire” to return to Mumbai, which ultimately paid INR 15 crore in an all-cash transfer, according to Titans director of cricket Vikram Solanki.
However, wasn’t Ravindra Jadeja suspended for speaking with another franchise on the side?
Because Ravindra Jadeja failed to sign his contract renewal with the Rajasthan Royals and instead tried to negotiate a new deal with Mumbai, the IPL suspended him for one season in 2010. He violated player trade and operating norms, the Indian Premier League alleged at the time.
What happens if a player wishes to leave his current team but his current one won’t let him?
Whether the player continues with the team or not is ultimately up to the organization in that situation.
ESPNcricinfo, Inc.
A transfer fee: what is it? Who makes the decision? Exists a boundary?
In addition to the player’s purchase price, a transfer fee is the sum of money that a team pays to another during a transaction. Mumbai gave Titans an unknown transfer fee in Hardik’s case, and a franchise’s auction funds will not be impacted by this sum. Before the deal is finalized, the franchises agree on the transfer price. A transfer fee has no upper limit; nonetheless, only the Indian Premier League and the participating teams are aware of its exact sum.
Is a portion of the transfer price paid to the player?
Indeed. A player’s share of the transfer money may be up to 50%, depending on the terms of the deal he and the team selling him have made. The player may not be entitled to a portion of the transfer money.
Does the auction purse get impacted by the transfer fee?
No, it doesn’t. Therefore, in Hardik’s situation, Titans’ purse will increase by that amount while Mumbai’s auction purse will decrease by just INR 15 crore (Hardik’s price). The auction purse is not the same as the transfer fee.
Does this imply that teams with larger budgets can benefit from luring players from other teams with hefty transfer fees? Is it not in opposition to the equality of the auction purse principle?
Yes, in a way, teams are able to spend far more than they would have in their auction funds to acquire the individuals they choose. But without the approval of the team the player is currently with, no move can take place.
