MI set to retain Suryakumar Yadav as Hardik Pandya trade picks up pace

Mumbai Indians have firmly shut the door on any trade involving Suryakumar Yadav, even as negotiations over Hardik Pandya's departure from the franchise enter what sources describe as a decisive phase, according to reports. A resolution on the Pandya deal is expected within the next 48 hours, with Punjab Kings emerging as the frontrunners to acquire the T20 World Cup-winning all-rounder.

The MI made their position on Suryakumar unambiguous. The franchise's insistence on retaining their batting mainstay comes against the backdrop of a remarkable 2025 IPL campaign in which Suryakumar scored 717 runs across 16 matches, underlining his value to the side.

"SKY is not up for trade, and there have been no discussions, nor will there be," an MI source was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Meanwhile, Pandya, who has captained MI across the 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons, managed only 270 runs from 13 matches during the 2024 IPL campaign, a return that fell well short of expectations for a player of his standing. Discussions between MI and Punjab Kings have centred on a possible exchange involving left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has established himself as a spearhead of India's T20I pace attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, have sought additional time from MI management to finalise the terms of the proposed deal.

What other franchises have been linked to a Pandya trade?

Beyond Punjab Kings, MI held exploratory talks with Kolkata Knight Riders over a deal that would have brought Hardik Pandya to the Knight Riders in exchange for a batter. However, KKR were unwilling to include pacer Harshit Rana in any such arrangement, and those discussions did not progress further.

Rajasthan Royals have also been mentioned in connection with a potential Pandya move, with conversations potentially featuring leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Whether Rajasthan have formally entered trade talks or remain at an exploratory stage has not been confirmed. For MI, the priority remains securing the best possible return for their captain before the trade window closes.

How does MI's current squad shape up amid the uncertainty?

MI's retained core heading into the next cycle includes Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Tilak Varma, Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks and Mitchell Santner alongside Suryakumar, giving the franchise a settled batting group regardless of how the Pandya situation resolves.

The bowling department presents a more complex picture. Trent Boult, the New Zealander who has been a key MI asset in previous seasons, managed just 2 wickets from 5 matches in the 2026 IPL. Deepak Chahar, by contrast, showed improved returns across back-to-back seasons, finishing with 11 scalps from 14 matches in 2025 and 8 wickets from 8 matches in 2026. England pacer Jofra Archer also remains part of MI's planning, as does the broader question of how the pace unit will be structured should Arshdeep Singh arrive from Punjab. Chennai Super Kings' Ayush Mhatre has also been referenced in wider trade conversations involving multiple franchises this window, reflecting how active the market has become ahead of the IPL 2027 auction cycle.