Hardik Pandya could be at the centre of the Indian Premier League’s biggest trade story ahead of the 2027 season, with Mumbai Indians considering a significant overhaul after enduring its longest title drought in the competition.

While no trade has been officially confirmed, conversations around Hardik’s future had gathered momentum even before the conclusion of IPL 2026.

Chennai Super Kings has emerged as a possible next stop for the India all-rounder — and, given his profile, there would be no shortage of suitors if he does become available — while Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals have also been understood to be considering the Hardik option.

The speculation comes after three contrasting seasons for MI. After a disastrous 2024 campaign, the five-time champion recovered to reach the playoffs in 2025 before another underwhelming performance in 2026 prompted a comprehensive review within the franchise.

“Our post-season review is currently on and we are looking into all aspects. Contrary to reports, we are not engaged in conversations with regard to player trade. The same is only possible once the review is complete,” an MI spokesperson told The Hindu on Saturday. “A range of options and ideas are being evaluated, which require time… hence no decisions have been made.”

That review extends well beyond the captaincy. Sources close to the franchise indicate MI is evaluating its leadership group, coaching staff and overall cricket operations as it looks to rebuild a side that has failed to challenge consistently for the title in recent years.

Despite the growing buzz, Hardik’s exit is far from certain. His decision to part ways with MI’s talent management arm has fuelled speculation, but it is not being viewed as a complete break with the franchise.

Historically, MI has retained its core players for long periods and continues to be regarded as one of the strongest player-management ecosystems in Indian sport, making any move involving its captain a complex one.

The trade market, meanwhile, remains in its early stages, with most franchises still conducting post-season reviews before finalising their plans — meaning multiple scenarios will likely continue to circulate across the league in the coming weeks.

Whether Hardik leaves or not, one thing appears increasingly clear: Mumbai Indians is unlikely to head into IPL 2027 with the same core that has represented the franchise over the last three seasons.

And if the India all-rounder does switch teams, it could prove to be the defining move of this trade window.

The Afghanistan ODI series may have been framed as another step in India’s march towards the 2027 World Cup, but beneath the victories lay a more specific objective: expanding the country’s all-rounder resources beyond the security blanket of Hardik Pandya.

India has spent much of the last decade orbiting around Hardik Pandya. He is not merely an all-rounder. He is a solution to several problems at once: a middle-order hitter, a finisher, a seam-bowling option, and a balance-restorer.

His absence due to a quadriceps strain handed the team management an opportunity to assess a range of candidates. Nitish Kumar, along with spin-bowling all-rounders Washington Sundar and Harsh Dubey, featured during the series, while Harshit Rana returned to the squad after a lengthy injury layoff.

India’s Washington Sundar in action during the second One-Day International cricket match against Afghanistan at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on June 17, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

Gurnoor Brar, meanwhile, showcased the pace, aggression and lower-order batting potential that have increasingly attracted the selectors’ attention.

Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate suggested that India’s planning extends well beyond identifying immediate replacements.

“It (the all-rounder pool) is really good. I would still say the majority of those guys are bowling all-rounders. And when Hardik’s fit, he obviously brings a different element because he’s such a strong batter and such a strong finisher. Sort of role scarcity… it is difficult to find a finisher who gives you overs as well.

India’s Gurnoor Brar in action during the second One-Day International (ODI) cricket match against at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on June 17, 2026. s
| Photo Credit:
SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

“Those guys are all tracking really nicely. With Nitish, for the last 18 months he’s shown glimpses of how important he can be to this team, particularly in this format. I feel his body’s getting stronger and stronger, and I sort of feel he is the natural successor or backup to Hardik,” he said.

Ten Doeschate’s comments revealed a broader emphasis on lower-order batting depth, particularly with South African conditions in mind.

Harsh Dubey during a practice session ahead of the 2nd ODI cricket match between India and Afghanistan on June 16, 2026 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
| Photo Credit:
SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

“Certainly, (it’s good) to see these other guys chipping in and working on their games — even someone like Gurnoor and Harshit. They’re bowling all-rounders, but the fact that we feel we’ve got guys who can hold the bat at No. 9… Obviously, looking forward to the next 14-15 months, that is going to be very important, especially in South Africa when you want to play three seamers, three proper out-and-out seamers,” he said.

The series highlighted the variety within India’s all-rounder pool. Add Harshit’s return, and the options suddenly appear plentiful. As ten Doeschate put it: “All of a sudden the cupboard seems very full.”

With 2027 on the horizon, that depth may prove as valuable as any individual star. India is no longer searching for one all-rounder. It is building a pool.

Shreyas Iyer is set to return to India’s T20I set-up and is also likely to be handed the captaincy in the shortest format when the senior national selection committee meets here on Saturday to pick the squads for three crucial assignments in the coming months.

The senior selection panel, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, is scheduled to finalise the contingents for the T20I series in Ireland, subsequent limited-overs tour of England and the Asian Games. Shreyas, who last played a T20I in December 2023, is expected to replace Suryakumar Yadav both in the squad and as captain. After enduring a prolonged lean patch with the bat, Suryakumar is set to lose his place despite having led India during its successful T20 World Cup title defence earlier this year.

The Hindu understands that both the selectors and team management have increasingly gravitated towards Shreyas as the leadership choice after multiple rounds of discussions.

Having captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 before guiding Punjab Kings to the final in 2025, the 31-year-old’s leadership credentials have significantly strengthened his case. Other names discussed for the role included Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma.

Interestingly, Hardik Pandya — who had been replaced by Suryakumar as captain at the beginning of the previous T20 World Cup cycle — and vice-captain of the recent World Cup campaign, Axar Patel, have not featured prominently in discussions so far.

Beyond the captaincy debate, teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the major talking point. The key question is whether the selectors accelerate the 15-year-old’s entry into the T20I squad or introduce him gradually through a relatively easier assignment in Zimbabwe in July.

Sooryavanshi already features among the 30 probables for the Asian Games. India will play two T20Is in Ireland on June 26 and 28 before travelling to England for five T20Is and three ODIs between July 1 and 19. The Asian Games cricket competition, scheduled from September 17 to October 3, overlaps with India’s home ODI series against the West Indies.

The selectors are also expected to name a replacement for Virat Kohli, whose hamstring injury has ruled him out of the ODI series against Afghanistan. Fitness reports concerning Rohit Sharma and Hardik — both selected earlier subject to clearance — will also come up for discussion during Saturday’s meeting.

Kieron Pollard on Sunday (May 24, 2026) stopped short of offering a firm endorsement of Hardik Pandya’s future as Mumbai Indians captain after another disappointing Indian Premier League campaign, insisting the franchise would now undertake a “thorough” review before taking key decisions.

For the second time in three seasons under Hardik’s leadership, Mumbai finished at the bottom of the points table with only four wins, despite boasting an experienced core comprising Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik, Tilak Varma and Jasprit Bumrah.

“Yes, it has not gone maybe as well as he would have wanted as an individual. It might not have gone the way we would have wanted as a management staff,” Pollard admitted after MI finished its IPL 2026 with a loss against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium. “But one thing you know is that we have tried each and everything to give the best opportunity to lead the franchise and do well.”

While backing Hardik’s intent through a difficult season marred by injuries, inconsistent form and repeated lapses in on-field cohesion, Pollard refused to categorically confirm whether the allrounder would continue as captain next season.

“You sit, you talk, see what’s best. Never know what’s going to happen,” Pollard said. “For us, let’s just lick our wounds in the meantime and hopefully come back stronger in 12 months’ time.”

Pollard also described the campaign as “a season of what-ifs”, admitting Mumbai Indians never managed to build sustained momentum through the tournament.

“We weren’t good throughout the entire tournament. We weren’t able to string together wins and use the momentum when we got it,” he said. “At the end of it, when you look at it rationally, I think we got the position that we deserved.”

Asked whether the franchise now needed significant changes in personnel after a prolonged title drought, Pollard indicated that all aspects would be reviewed internally, though no immediate decisions were likely.

“It’s going to be thorough. Guys are going to sit back and think about what’s needed,” Pollard said. “There’s nowhere near the time to make unnecessary statements on stuff that we’re not going to do right now.”

In a tournament as long as the Indian Premier League, a franchise’s opening fixture isn’t necessarily indicative of how the season will transpire. At this early stage, there is plenty of room for lessons to be gleaned, plans to be fine-tuned and combinations to be tweaked.

Mumbai Indians’ Surya Kumar Yadav during a practice session on the eve of the IPL T20 Match at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi on April 03, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
R.V. MOORTHY

That said, a win to begin proceedings certainly settles the nerves and spreads positive vibes. Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, which will meet at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Saturday afternoon, will attest after victories in their opening fixtures.

While DC overcame a jittery start to a chase of 142 to register a six-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants, Hardik Pandya’s men never looked in strife in pursuit of 221 against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Delhi Capitals’ K.L. Rahul during a practice session on the eve of the IPL T20 Match at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi on April 03, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
R.V. MOORTHY

For the five-time champion, a leaner and fitter Rohit Sharma was in full flow against KKR, scoring 78 and stitching together an opening stand of 148 runs with Ryan Rickelton. With the 38-year-old’s involvement at the international level confined to the 50-over format, he was available for the entirety of MI’s pre-season preparations this time.

“He joined us on day one of our camp. We did a lot of simulations, we had quite a few practice matches that we played, so he was part of all that. The hand speed was pretty good,” said MI coach Mahela Jayawardene on Friday.

In marked contrast to MI’s opening pair, DC’s top-order appeared shaky at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. If Capitals still emerged unscathed, it was owing to Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs forging a fine alliance from 26 for four.

The surface for Saturday’s fixture is expected to be full of runs. Jayawardene sees it as par for the course in the early part of the campaign. “The wickets will get slower as the season progresses. You have to let that natural process happen and not worry too much about the first few games,” he said.

Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya were the four Indians named in the ICC’s Team of 2026 T20 World Cup after their team coasted to a record third title.

Player of the Tournament Samson leads the winning quartet, after the opener’s 321 runs from just five innings.

Samson started the tournament outside of the Indian playing eleven but shone bright with Player of the Match performances against the West Indies and England before making the highest individual score in a Men’s T20 World Cup final with 89 against New Zealand on Sunday (March 8, 2026).

Kishan hit 317 runs – the fourth most of any player – as his performances across the top of the order anchored India’s batting performances with a huge strike rate of 193.29.

He produced a masterful 77 as an opener against Pakistan before adjusting to number three with important knocks against England and New Zealand, including a half-century in the final.

Pandya is the third Indian batter included, with the all-rounder recognised for his contribution with bat and ball. He scored two half-centuries with the bat and produced devastating spells when it mattered, including 52 off 28 against Namibia, while he also took nine wickets in all.

Bumrah is the fourth Indian player in the team, with the Player of the Match in the final recognised for his excellent bowling performances.

Bumrah finished as the tournament’s joint-leading wicket taker, with 14 from eight matches. He finished with figures of four for 15 in the final and posted an economy of 6.21 throughout the tournament.

The top of the order also includes Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan, who finished as the tournament’s top run-scorer with an aggregate of 383. That came at an average of 76.60 and was headlined by a pair of centuries, against Sri Lanka and Namibia.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament: 1. Sahibzada Farhan 2. Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper) 3. Ishan Kishan 4. Aiden Markram (captain) 5. Hardik Pandya 6. Will Jacks 7. Jason Holder 8. Jasprit Bumrah 9. Lungi Ngidi 10. Adil Rashid 11. Blessing Muzarabani 12th player: Shadley van Schalkwyk.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra says India are “incomplete” without Hardik Pandya, underlining the all-rounder’s unmatched value as the team begins its final preparation for the T20 World Cup with a crucial five-match series against New Zealand.

The series is India’s final T20I assignment before they begin the defence of their T20 world title.

Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Game Plan’, Chopra reserved special praise for Pandya, calling him irreplaceable in the Indian setup.

“Team India is incomplete without Hardik Pandya. There is only one Hardik in the entire world. What he provides with bat and ball, no one else in India can do,” he said.

“You might want a spinner like Varun Chakaravarthy or Kuldeep Yadav in the eleven, but then you also need a batter at number eight. You can’t have everything, you can’t field twelve players.

“Only Hardik can do this for you. He can bowl with the new ball and make an impact, and he bowls at the death too. He even bowled the final over of the 2024 T20 World Cup which India won. Only Hardik can do such things. You won’t find anyone else like him.”

Chopra said the New Zealand series will be key for India to settle combinations amid injury and form concerns.

“This five-match T20I series versus New Zealand is very important for Suryakumar Yadav and his team. New Zealand have also come fully prepared. In the ODI series they rested some players, but here their main T20 World Cup squad is playing,” Chopra said.

He added that the team management must use the series to finalise their balance.

“Will they play two pacers and three spinners? Which batters do they need? If Tilak Varma is fit, will they give Rinku Singh a chance or keep playing Shreyas Iyer? There are many questions to answer before this series,” he noted.

Chopra also spoke about Abhishek Sharma’s growing stature in T20 cricket, saying the left-hander now carries a “fear factor”.

“In the last six to eight months, Abhishek Sharma has shown different sides to his game. Now, his reputation arrives before he does — the kind of fear Rohit Sharma had in this format,” he said.

On India captain Suryakumar, Chopra advised a slight tactical adjustment early in the innings.

“He needs to remind himself that he is a 360-degree player and can score all around the ground. Early on, he should look to play straighter and along the ground,” he said.

With selection calls and roles still fluid, the New Zealand series is expected to play a decisive role in shaping India’s T20 plans going forward.

It’s a delight to watch Quinton de Kock bat. The stylish opener unfurled a lot of his signature shots at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium on Thursday (December 11, 2025). His 46-ball 90 (5×4, 7×6) proved invaluable as South Africa beat India by 51 runs in the second T20I and levelled the five-match series 1-1. Asked to bat first, the Proteas took full toll of a mediocre bowling show from India to amass 213 for four in 20 overs.

De Kock contributed the lion’s share of the runs, once again showing why he is one of the most feared openers in white-ball cricket.

While Reeza Hendricks (8, 10b, 1×6) and No. 3 Aiden Markram (29, 26b, 1×4, 2×6) found it difficult to get going early, de Kock had no such qualms, peppering the deep square-leg boundary with ease and panache.

Yuvraj Singh, whose stand was unveiled along with Harmanpreet Kaur here, would have been taken down the memory lane watching some of the stylish leg-side sixes de Kock unleashed.

Ominous signs

Things looked ominous for India at the halfway stage of the South African innings (90 for one).

The opener’s most authoritative stroke of the evening, a six over Arshdeep Singh’s head probably rattled the left-arm pacer. Arshdeep lost his bearings and bowled seven wides in the 13-ball 11th over, which went for 18 runs. The TV cameras also showed India head coach Gautam Gambhir losing his cool over Arshdeep’s continued lack of control.

Markram got into the act soon, hitting back-to-back sixes off Varun Chakaravarthy down the ground. His third attempt, off the last ball of the over, wasn’t successful as Varun (4-0-29-2) had the Proteas skipper mishit one straight to deep midwicket.

Blitzkrieg

De Kock’s blitzkrieg finally came to an end when he ran himself out after he under-edged one and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma quickly dislodged the bails once his opposite number took a couple of steps, not knowing where the ball had gone.

After a couple of quiet overs, Donovan Ferreira (30 n.o., 16b, 1×4, 3×6) and David Miller (20 n.o., 12b, 2×4, 1×6) went after Jasprit Bumrah (4-0-45-0) and Arshdeep (4-0-54-0) as the visitors slammed 49 runs off the last three overs, essentially batting India out of the match.

India conceded as many as 22 extras, including 16 wides, which added to South Africa’s momentum.

The result was a foregone conclusion once the host lost Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav within four overs.

India may be getting concerned with the batting form of the skipper Suryakumar and his deputy Gill ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Axar Patel’s promotion to No. 3 did not bear fruit as the Indian chase went nowhere. With 133 needed off the last 10 overs (six wickets in hand), not many would have given India a chance. They were proven right. Only Tilak Varma (62, 34b, 2×4, 5×6) gave a fight as India got bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs.

The think-tank will have a lot to ponder over as the bandwagon heads further north to Dharamshala.

Supremely confident and one who plays for the masses — that’s Hardik Pandya 101. The flamboyant all-rounder, while fashioning India’s 101-run win over South Africa in Cuttack, reached 99 wickets and 100 sixes in T20Is.

These numbers convey an obvious fact. A fit and rearing Hardik will give India the freedom to bat deep without compromising on the bowling front. While Hardik’s uninhibited batting smashes constraints, his mere presence gives the skipper a seamer capable of bowling in any phase of the innings.

India went with two front-line pacers in Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh in the first T20I, meaning Hardik was employed after the PowerPlay. He found success too, removing David Miller off his first delivery. He has also been used in the first six overs and in the death overs consistently.

Decent returns

This is the luxury Hardik provides. Since the 2024 T20 World Cup, Hardik has bowled in the first six overs in 17 T20Is. An economy of 7.42 while scalping five wickets in 168 balls is decent returns from your premier all-rounder. His middle-over numbers since July 2024 read: eight matches, 84 balls, two wickets at 8.14 rpo.

Arshdeep (nine scalps) is the only Indian pacer to take more wickets than Hardik (eight) in the death overs since the 2024 T20 extravaganza. Hardik’s economy rate in the phase stands at 9.53 rpo after dishing out 78 balls in 10 matches.

Hardik is the main character when he wields the bat, and he is equally good at playing the support role with the ball in hand.

“Life has thrown a lot of lemons at me, I’ve always thought I’ll make a lemonade,” Hardik told bcci.tv.

What’s on the menu for Thursday? Only Hardik knows!