Another player swap maybe in the works - Shardul Thakur for MI, Arjun Tendulkar to LSG

Even as the Ravindra Jadeja-Sam Curran trade for Sanju Samson between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals is grabbing the headlines, another significant, if not equally high-profile, player exchange (not exactly a trade) is slipping under the radar. Cricbuzz can reveal that Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians are engaged in discussion over Shardul Thakur and Arjun Tendulkar.

There could be a different interpretation of the situation - that the two players may not exactly be part of a trade but rather separate transactions, independent of each other. Sources say both Thakur and Tendulkar are likely to change franchises, but the two moves may be treated or interpreted as individual deals - more precisely, straightforward all-cash transfers.

As per the Indian Premier League (IPL) trade rules, it is the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that must officially announce any exchange.However, sources within the Mumbai cricket circles have confirmed to Cricbuzz that the player exchange is a possibility. The announcement could come in the next couple of days, alongside the list of player retention and releases on November 15.

Thakur, currently leading the Mumbai team, was picked up by the SuperGiants as a replacement player for his base price of INR 2 crore before the start of the last season, after going unsold in the mega IPL auction in Jeddah last year. He featured in 10 games for LSG with modest batting returns - scoring 18 runs - but significantly enough, he managed to claim 13 wickets. Used primarily with the new ball, Thakur often opened the attack and proved to be an effective bowler with the brand new cherry.

Tendulkar has been part of the Mumbai Indians setup for a couple of seasons, having been picked at his base price of INR 20 lakh in both the auctions he had enrolled in. The 26-year-old left-handed all-rounder did not get a game last season, but over the previous two seasons, he played four matches - three in 2023 and one in 2024. In all, he has featured in five IPL games, scoring 13 runs and taking three wickets.

It is not known whose initiative was the process, but it is learnt that the franchises are in discussion over it. A couple of years ago, Tendulkar had moved from Mumbai to Goa in domestic cricket and has since featured in 21 first-class matches. In a power-packed Mumbai setups - be it in the domestic and in the IPL team - breaking into the playing XI has always been a challenge.

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