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.

Moments after Delhi Capitals suffered a harrowing loss to Kolkata Knight Riders at home on May 8, skipper Axar Patel, resigned to his team not making the playoffs of IPL 2026, said the remaining three league games would be used to give opportunities to newer players. One of the beneficiaries of Axar’s view has been all-rounder Madhav Tiwari.

The 22-year-old from Madhya Pradesh — his family hails from Rewa district but he was born and brought up in Indore — has grabbed his opportunity in DC’s previous two matches.

The seamer picked up two wickets apiece against both Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals, and he also provided a glimpse of his ability with the willow during an unbeaten 14-ball 18 to seal a successful chase at the expense of Shreyas Iyer’s men.

Curiously, Madhav, whose IPL debut came against Mumbai Indians last year, is yet to feature for his State team at the senior level. He attracted the attention of Capitals when he turned out for Bhopal Leopards in the maiden Madhya Pradesh T20 League in 2024.

“What was spoken about Madhav when we picked him was that he was somebody who liked the pressure. He can bat, hit a long ball, and also bowl through all three phases,” DC head coach Hemang Badani told the media.

Madhav owes his cricketing skills to former India batter Amay Khurasiya, having trained at the 54-year-old’s academy in Indore since the age of 12. As Khurasiya recounts, Madhav, whose father has a transport and logistics business, was a reluctant bowler to begin with.

“Those kids who bat well generally don’t like bowling. He was one of those kids who loved batting,” Khurasiya told The Hindu. “He never enjoyed bowling, but he somehow took my advice. I have been particular about everyone developing both the fundamental skills in the game.”

Facing contrasting scenarios, Gujarat Titans (GT) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will meet in a crucial fixture of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday (May 16, 2026).

The second-positioned Shubman Gill-led GT will look to record another win and confirm its berth in the playoffs.

The eighth-spot holder, Ajinkya Rahane-captained KKR, which is returning home after spending three eventful weeks on the road, will be keen to win its remaining three matches as its chances of qualification hang by a thread.

KKR missed its injured spinner Varun Chakravarthy as it could not defend 192 in its last match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Because of his expertise to bowl in tandem with the reliable Sunil Narine and Anukul Roy to dry up the runs in the middle overs, the team would be eager to see Varun back in action.

Hard-working pacers Kartik Tyagi (16 wickets) and Vaibhav Arora should continue to shoulder responsibility. Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green will hope to provide the requisite balance.

KRR will depend on its top run-getter Angkrish Raghuvanshi (340 runs), Rinku Singh, Green, Finn Allen and Rahane in the batting department.

Having recorded five wins on the trot, GT will bank on its formidable bowling attack, including Kagiso Rabada (21), Rashid Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Jason Holder and Mohammed Siraj, to carry on the winning momentum and achieve its immediate target of securing a slot in the last-four.

Led by Sai Sudharsan (501), the GT batting, also including top performers such as Gill, Jos Buttler and Washington Sundar, is capable of putting up a challenging total.

While the Eden track is known for favouring the batters, some assistance for the bowlers cannot be ruled out.

Even though the purple-and-gold brigade will enjoy the home support, GT, due to its better head-to-head record and current form, seems to have the edge.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ head coach Abhishek Nayar said he reckoned the team’s total of 192 for four against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL 2026 clash in Raipur on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) was par for the course, despite the eventual result.

Riding on Virat Kohli’s first century of the season, RCB never looked in trouble and managed to chase the target down in the final over, in spite of a few late wickets.

“The pitch was good through and through. Anytime there is a bit of rain, you expect the ball to swing and seam. But I still felt we got enough runs on the board, because midway, when we had that discussion, we felt anywhere between 180 and 200 would be a good score,” Nayar said.

The former Mumbai cricketer said it was unfortunate that the team could not hold onto the chances they created against in-form players like Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, which allowed the game to slip away.

This was KKR’s first loss after a run of four consecutive wins, which helped it maintain a slender chance to qualify for the playoffs. Nayar said the key to the squad’s improvement was to maintain a secure environment throughout the tournament.

“From the start of the season, one thing we decided was to be consistent in how we approach our processes. Making sure the environment is good is one of the hardest things to do in the IPL with all the noise and pressure. We wanted to curate an environment where the players felt safe, where they could go out and play regardless of the outcome,” he said.

As the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) most expensive overseas recruit ever at ₹25.2 crore, Australia’s Cameron Green had many more eyeballs fixed on his exploits for Kolkata Knight Riders this season.

A patchy start to the tournament, coupled with KKR’s streak of losses, meant Green was in the firing line, but the all-rounder from Perth — an imposing presence at 6’6” — has got better as the competition has progressed.

The 26-year-old has contributed 232 runs and four wickets in 10 matches for the three-time champion. While he would have certainly liked to make more of an impact, he hasn’t felt any additional pressure because of his price tag.

“The support staff never put any pressure on me. They have been awesome to me since day one. I was never made to feel that there was any extra pressure compared to anyone else,” Green said after Knight Riders defeated Delhi Capitals on Friday (May 8, 2026).

“There’s always pressure on the international guys. You have to be performing at all times because the guys on the bench are also ready to go. But, no, I’ll probably have the support staff to thank for that.”

KKR’s hopes of reaching the playoffs appeared derailed when it went winless in its first six matches. Now, a run of four victories on the trot has given Ajinkya Rahane and Co. a fresh lease of life. Asked for his view on the resurgence, Green argued that the belief was always intact.

“I didn’t think the belief was ever gone. We’ve had a really good culture this whole tournament,” he opined.

Dwayne Bravo has had a recurring request from the young Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers in IPL 2026. It is to be taught the dipping slower ball that the free-spirited 42-year-old mastered during his playing days in the shortest format. Lungi Ngidi, who is part of the Delhi Capitals set-up, is a prominent beneficiary of learning the variation from the former West Indies all-rounder during their association with Chennai Super Kings.

“Especially since Lungi talked about it, everyone wants me to teach them that slower ball. Thanks, Lungi,” Bravo said amid a ripple of laughter at the pre-match interaction on Thursday (May 7, 2026).

As mentor of KKR, Bravo’s primary role in the coaching set-up is to work with the bowling group. In addition to helping develop newer skills with the ball, Bravo lays emphasis on the ability to read and understand game-situations.

“My strength was my ability to read and understand the game. That is what I try to coach more than anything else,” he explained. “The brain is the most important thing. And that’s what I try to teach the younger bowling group. Because if they are able to think, they will all be better bowlers.”

Asked about Varun Chakaravarthy’s return to form, Bravo said that a small break due to injury was needed for the spinner to refresh mentally.

“Varun just came from the T20 World Cup, which was also a very hectic tournament. The group was very supportive of him and a mental break was also very needed in a tournament like the IPL,” he said.

After spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine set the tone for Kolkata Knight Riders’ seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, the 166-run chase was handled with calm authority.

Finn Allen’s blistering start meant KKR was well ahead, and from there, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and skipper Ajinkya Rahane stitched together a risk-free 84-run partnership to put the visitor on the brink of victory. Raghuvanshi, who raised a composed half-century – his third of the season – said that his focus remained in the moment rather than on the scoreboard.

“With the older ball, the pitch got a little tougher. It got slower, so the start that Ajinkya bhaiya and Finn gave us was very crucial. We got in front of the game in the PowerPlay and it got easier from there.”

Sunrisers Hyderabad, in quintessential fashion, began its IPL clash against Kolkata Knight Riders with an onslaught so ferocious it felt like the game might be over before it had properly begun. Boundaries flew, the scoreboard spiralled, and KKR was pushed to the brink as SRH went past the 100-run mark in a blink-and-you-miss-it 8.5 overs.

That chaos, stunning and without warning, gave way for a spectacular collapse, courtesy an adamant spin chokehold by Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine that eventually set up a seven-wicket victory for the visitors at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday.

ike a restored Swiss watch, Chennai Super Kings ticked, getting the timing right again at Chepauk as it clinched a second straight win, beating Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs in IPL 2026 here on Tuesday.

Defending 192 under lights, CSK applied the classic Chepauk spin-choke. KKR was made to work for every boundary, with the asking rate nudging up incrementally until the chase slipped out of reach.

Like a metronome finding its beat after a stutter, Noor Ahmad’s rhythm returned, and with it, the steady ticking of wickets. He struck twice in two balls — Ajinkya Rahane (28) miscuing a googly to hole out, and Cameron Green (nought) having his stumps rattled. Later, he dangled a carrot outside off, luring Rinku Singh (six) into a catch at long-on to finish with three for 21.