Wildcard Sudoku Puzzle (Daily Sudoku League #221)

Before the World Sudoku Championship 2017, there was Puzzle Innovation Contest in which one can submit their Sudoku Innovations. Some of the Sudoku puzzles were selected from this Puzzle Innovation Contest and these Sudoku types became part of the World Sudoku Championship 2017. The wildcard Sudoku type is innovated by young talented Indian Sudoku player Hemant and this Wildcard Sudoku won the second prize in this Puzzle Innovation Contest.
Wildcard Sudoku is now appearing in the 5th round of WPF Sudoku Grand Prix 2018. I have created this Wildcard Sudoku for the practice of this Sudoku Competition. This Wildcard Sudoku, I am dedicating this to its innovator Hemant and publishing it in Daily Sudoku League as the 221st Sudoku Puzzle in this Series.

Rules of Wildcard Sudoku Puzzle

Standard Sudoku Rules apply. Additionally, one digit acts as a wildcard. Cells with > symbol contain digits greater than the wildcard. Cells with < symbol contain digits lesser than the wildcard.  It is part of solving to determine the wildcard.

Wildcard Sudoku Puzzle (Daily Sudoku League #221)

The answer to this Wildcard Sudoku puzzle can be viewed by clicking on the button. Please try your best to solve this Sudoku puzzle before looking at the answer.

Wildcard Sudoku Puzzle (Daily Sudoku League #221) Answer

This Wildcard Sudoku Puzzle I am publishing as the #221st Sudoku puzzle in The League of Extraordinary Ladies & Gentlemen. Here are the next and previous Sudoku puzzles published in this Sudoku series.

The previous Sudoku Puzzle is MinMax Bridge Sudoku Puzzle (Daily Sudoku League #220)

The next Sudoku Puzzle is Repeated Neighbours Sudoku (Daily Sudoku League #1)