4 IPL teams interested in trading for Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya's future at Mumbai Indians is under serious scrutiny ahead of IPL 2027. The all-rounder, retained by MI for ₹16.35 crore, captained the side to a ninth-place finish in IPL 2026, winning just four matches across the season.

With the trade deadline falling on November 17, 2026, and the player auction scheduled for December 16, 2026, at least four franchises have reportedly explored the possibility of bringing Pandya to their setup. The discussions span player swaps, cash deals and even leadership roles.

Here are the four franchises interested in trading for Hardik Pandya:

1. Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings have long been linked with a move for Pandya, and backroom interest from the franchise is reported to be strong. Trade package explorations from CSK's side have reportedly involved players such as Shivam Dube or Dewald Brevis, along with a cash component. CSK chief executive Kasi Viswanathan has previously denied any trade talks involving Pandya, though speculation has continued. An official X post from CSK's account at 10:33 added fuel to fan theories, given that Pandya wears the number 33 for India and Mumbai Indians. There have also been online reports suggesting that MS Dhoni could personally play a role in convincing Pandya to move to Chennai.

2. Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings appear to be the frontrunners among all interested parties. Negotiations between PBKS and MI have moved considerably, with senior management at both franchises reported to have largely agreed on the terms of an exchange. Under the proposed deal, pacer Arshdeep Singh and wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Vinod would head to Mumbai Indians, while Pandya would move to Punjab. Documentation is expected to be processed by IPL officials before the November 17 deadline. However, Pandya is unlikely to receive the captaincy at PBKS, with Shreyas Iyer already leading the side.

3. Rajasthan Royals

Mumbai Indians approached Rajasthan Royals with several player-swap concepts centred on Pandya. The names floated to RR included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi. RR have shown initial resistance to these approaches. According to a report dated November 4, 2026, the franchise is not willing to part with Archer as part of any deal, though they are reportedly open to offering Jaiswal and Bishnoi in return for Pandya. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had earlier described RR as being at the top of the list in the Pandya trade race, calling them the frontrunners at that point.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders have shown persistent interest in Pandya and have explored trade offers with MI. Discussions involving KKR included players such as Harshit Rana and Angkrish Raghuvanshi as potential swap assets. A leadership role, including the captaincy, for Pandya at KKR was reportedly part of those conversations, with Ashwin also noting that KKR could offer him the armband. However, MI reportedly sought Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh in a swap, an offer KKR turned down. Reports also noted that KKR may need to reconsider their coaching setup, specifically the position of Abhishek Nayar, if Pandya were to join.