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India National Cricket Team all-rounder Hardik Pandya's future with Mumbai Indians (MI) has become one of the hottest topics amid the Indian Premier League (IPL) window. After another disappointing season, talks about Hardik Pandya leaving the Mumbai Indians are growing stronger.
There have been reports that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are the frontrunners to trade the Indian all-rounder from the Mumbai Indians (MI) for the IPL 2027. Amid the buzz, Ravichandran Ashwin has now shared his views on the possible trade. Amid this, Suryakumar Yadav is set to leave the Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2027.
Hardik Pandya could leave the Mumbai Indians before IPL 2027
Hardik Pandya's future at the Mumbai Indians (MI) is looking uncertain after the team's poor performances over the last three seasons. Under his captaincy, Mumbai Indians reached the playoffs only once. In IPL 2026, the five-time champions had a terrible campaign, finishing ninth in the table.
After the disappointing 2026 season, reports claimed that Hardik had already informed MI that he was leaving and was searching for a new home in the IPL. Amid this, Shivam Dube eyes CSK exit as franchise plans foreign head coach over MS Dhoni.
Since then, several media reports claimed that Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are really interested in signing the Indian all-rounder if Mumbai Indians agree to a trade.
Ravichandran Ashwin wants MI to ask for top Indian stars
The former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that Mumbai Indians (MI) should make sure they get a strong deal if Hardik Pandya leaves the franchise.
He feels that if Kolkata Knight Riders want Hardik, MI should ask for Indian stars Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh in return. The former CSK all-rounder believes that such a deal would help Mumbai Indians build a stronger squad for the future.
Ravichandran Ashwin said in a video posted on his YouTube channel: “Don’t count out Hardik going to a franchise other than CSK or KKR. The talk is that CSK will give Dube and a pacer, while KKR will give away Cameron Green. What happens if Green decides to focus on the Ashes next year? If I were MI, I would accept a deal with KKR on only one condition: getting Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh in return. That is the only way MI gets stronger.”
Shivam Dube, Cameron Green not enough? Ashwin explains why
Reports have also claimed that Chennai Super Kings could offer Shivam Dube along with an Indian fast bowler, while Kolkata Knight Riders could include Cameron Green in a possible Hardik Pandya trade package.
However, Ashwin feels Mumbai Indians should think beyond those offers. He believes getting Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh would be a much better deal because both players can strengthen the team for many years. He also feels MI must carefully think about which team becomes stronger after signing Hardik.
Ashwin further explained, “MI will also think about who between CSK and KKR gets stronger through the Hardik trade. If CSK gives away Dube and one Indian pacer to get Hardik, they get strong but not invincible. However, if KKR gets Hardik, they suddenly look very strong. KKR will become a lethal batting lineup with Hardik. These are teams with five, five, and three titles, so MI has to think about how they can ensure one of these teams doesn’t leapfrog them.”
