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Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) keeper-batter and the winner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Manvinder Bisla, said that KKR could be the best fit for Hardik Pandya for the IPL 2027 season.
Since the conclusion of the IPL 2026 campaign, Hardik Pandya has been linked with multiple franchises, as the skipper of the Mumbai Indians is expected to leave the team after another disastrous season. In 2026, under the leadership of Pandya, Mumbai Indians finished ninth in the 10-team points table.
Hardik Pandya could join KKR ahead of IPL 2027
Among the franchises, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and KKR are considered the frontrunners to acquire the services of the proven all-rounder. Only a few days ago, it was reported that Pandya was all set to join CSK. But things could change drastically as KKR is reportedly remaining in the race for Hardik Pandya.
In an online group discussion panel hosted by the YouTube channel TheBallyBaazi, Manvinder Bisla said that, out of all, KKR would be the best destination for Pandya as KKR currently is the only franchise where he, a star cricketer, could meet all his requirements.
While MI finished ninth, KKR was the seventh team in the IPL 2026 points table. After the retirement of Ajinkya Rahane, it is now almost clear that the Knight Riders will need a captain who can take the team towards their fourth title.
I feel KKR would suit Hardik really well: Manvinder Bisla
If the previous reports are to be believed, then Hardik Pandya himself wants a leadership role in the following season to prove himself as a leader. Bisla in the video mentioned that in KKR, Hardik will have the opportunity to lead the team and will have an atmosphere where he can perform with freedom.
“100% (On Kolkata being the best-suited team for Hardik). There’s no doubt about it. Kolkata is one team where there is a search for a leader, where he can excel and get the freedom he needs. Because, look, I feel KKR would suit Hardik really well. He will get freedom, he will get leadership, and whatever Hardik needs at this point, he will get all of it at KKR,” Manvinder Bisla stated.
Manvinder Bisla highlighted Hardik Pandya's stint as the Gujarat Titans captain
Bisla highlighted that when Hardik was the captain of the Gujarat Titans (GT), he used to operate on a different level as a captain and as a leader as well. With Hardik Pandya as the leader, GT won the league in 2022, so there is no doubt that the all-rounder has leadership skills.
“He might also have leadership on his mind, thinking, ‘I need to show somewhere that I am a very good leader.’ Because if you look at his time leading GT, the team became champions and also reached another final. So I don’t think you can have too many doubts about his captaincy. Obviously, his two or three years with MI haven’t been that great because, as you can see, there are a lot of leaders in that team, and managing so many leaders can sometimes be very difficult for teams,” Bisla added.
