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Where will Hardik Pandya go? Next IPL club, landing spots for Mumbai Indians captain
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- Where will Hardik Pandya go? Next IPL club, landing spots for Mumbai Indians captain
In the run-up to the 20th edition of Indian Premier League, in 2027, the one name that has persisted in trade rumours is that of Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya.
Ever since a difficult 2026 campaign, Pandya has been linked with multiple teams yet no deal has materialised.
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Mumbai are said to be keen on keeping Pandya purely as a player next season, while quietly planning a new direction under a different captain. That discussion is already well underway inside the franchise, and former captain Rohit Sharma is reportedly involved in both the captaincy decision and the team's wider plans.
A return to the captaincy for Rohit was floated at one stage, but it doesn't look likely, since the 39-year-old is reportedly not keen to take the armband back. The frontrunners are therefore Tilak Varma and Jasprit Bumrah, and the indications at the moment suggest the balance is tilting towards Tilak.
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Where will Hardik Pandya go?
According to the Times of India , Mumbai have held conversations with Kolkata Knight Riders, but they haven't found an offer worth accepting. Cameron Green's name is understood to have come up as a possible part of any arrangement.
However, the Mumbai management is not comfortable with the Australian's busy 2027 calendar, which includes a heavy Test workload at home, because that would make his IPL availability uncertain.
Pandya has been linked to KKR, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Gujarat Titans (GT). Punjab Kings have also joined the race to sign up the MI captain.
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Next IPL club, potential landing sports for Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya to KKR
Kolkata Knight Riders have long been in search of an elite Indian pace-bowling all-rounder who can finish games and deliver two to four overs, which would also reduce their dependence on overseas slots.
Hardik would most likely bat at No. 5 or 6 alongside Rinku Singh, and he would add another seam option at Eden Gardens.
The main hurdle is price, as Mumbai would demand proven Indian international players in return. Ajinkya Rahane has retired from all formats, so Hardik will be straight away handed the armband.
Hardik Pandya to CSK
Chennai value experienced all-rounders, and Hardik has previously spoken of his admiration for MS Dhoni's tactical thinking.
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The Super Kings also need long-term Indian leadership and power-hitting in the lower order, and he could bowl in the middle overs and hit at the death on Chepauk's surfaces. Fitting his salary into CSK's core retention structure without upsetting the balance of the squad would be the challenge.
Hardik Pandya to Delhi Capitals
Delhi have restructured their leadership and Indian core several times, so an established IPL-winning captain would solve their captaincy question and their middle-order finishing problem in one move.
He would arrive as captain and frontline all-rounder. Delhi would, however, need enough purse room or trade value to persuade Mumbai to release him.
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Hardik Pandya to Gujarat Titans
Hardik's most successful spell as an IPL captain came in Ahmedabad, where he led Gujarat to the title in their debut season of 2022 and to the final in 2023.
A return would let him rebuild the core alongside Shubman Gill and the management in a setup where his tactical clarity once thrived. However, he might receive a cold reception at the Narendra Modi Stadium, and he would definitely not be wearing his leadership hat, as it belongs to Shubman Gill.
Hardik Pandya to Gujarat Titans
On Tuesday, November 3, it was reported that Punjab Kings are closing in on a Pandya deal, possibly trading fast-bowler Arshdeep Singh for him.
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"The Ricky Ponting-coached franchise has advanced considerably in its negotiations with Mumbai Indians, with India pacer Arshdeep Singh and wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Vinod likely to move in the opposite direction," the Sportstar reported.
Will Hardik Pandya stay at Mumbai Indians?
There have been suggestions that supporters shouldn't rule out Hardik staying put, and a source told Times of India that the player has also been spoken to along those lines.
"Don't be surprised if he is not traded at all. Discussions have also happened with the player along these lines," the source said.
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Hence, Pandya could stay put at Mumbai. Keeping him as a pure match-winner alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav is still Mumbai's best baseline plan if no trade offers fair value.
There have also been rumours that Rohit Sharma could be re-instated as MI captain.
