Hardik Pandya trade: CSK enter race; seven franchises express interest

Hardik Pandya is set to leave Mumbai Indians. New Delhi: Hardik Pandya has become one of the most sought-after players ever since the all-rounder decided to quit Mumbai Indians (MI) following the five-time champions’ disastrous campaign in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).The race to sign the 32-year-old has intensified and TimesofIndia.com can confirm that seven franchises have expressed interest in signing the all-rounder. Only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) remained spectators. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) entered the race late but have now set up an exciting contest with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) while Rajasthan Royals (RR) are also in the fray. Pandya is a perfect fit for CSK, especially in the post-MS Dhoni era, but there is no guarantee that he will wear the captain’s armband. Meanwhile, KKR are looking for a captain and RR are also ready to offer leadership as well as a long-term role. It will be interesting to see how MI will fare given the high interest in their captain.Communication channels are currently active between MI, CSK and KKR. While the three parties have yet to confirm anything, various options are being explored. Who will CSK let go? Will it be an all-cash deal? Does KKR have a tangible asset to trade? Or will it be a roadblock like it was in the case of KL Rahul last year?CSK remained patient observers as the buzz around Pandya’s movement intensified. The five-time champions will time their entry exactly as they did during the successful trade of Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran last season. Currently, CSK are in a very strong position to sign Pandya, but a late hiccup cannot be ruled out as player deals remain a tricky business in the IPL ecosystem. The role of an influential figure in the CSK set-up could be key to the direction of the deal.The most important aspect is the player’s consent and it will be interesting to see if Pandya is interested in going to the franchise without the captain’s armband. Two highly respected former international captains also showed interest, one offered the captain’s chair, but initial discussions did not materialize into anything meaningful. A new round of talks cannot be ruled out in the North, especially if the talks in the South gain momentum.Pandya may not be the only high-profile Indian cricketer involved in a deal this season. It has been learned that MI will have to complete the all-rounder’s move before dealing with the future of one of his teammates. MI and interested franchises are likely to factor this into their talks about Pandya. While this may not have a direct impact, it could affect the franchise’s approach to two possible transactions.

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Share an opinionIf MI go for a cash deal for Pandya, will they do the same for his India and MI teammates? How will other franchises stack up? There are no immediate answers, but it is expected to be clear soon. One store at a time.(We have contacted parties who are actively interested in Hardik Pandya trade for comment. (The story will be updated once they respond.)