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Hardik Pandya’s second stint as Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper hasn’t worked out as expected. The all-rounder has not been able to perform consistently with the bat and ball. The team also has not been able to get going under his captaincy. Reports of unrest in the dressing room have added to the speculation surrounding his future with the franchise.
With questions being raised about Hardik’s next move, former India spinner R Ashwin has discussed the teams that could show interest in the all-rounder. Ashwin believes Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) could be a suitable destination, especially if the franchise considers giving him the captaincy role.
KKR Could Offer Hardik Pandya a Captaincy Opportunity
Ashwin feels KKR have the potential to make a move for Hardik and could explore a player exchange to bring him into their squad. The former India spinner also named a few players who could be part of a possible deal.
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“KKR have great potential because Hardik can also become the captain there. They could offer Varun Chakaravarthy for him. But as long as Abhishek Nayar is there, I don’t think Varun will move from KKR. Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh could be other options,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
He also discussed possible trade combinations involving Rajasthan Royals (RR). According to Ashwin, players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sam Curran, Brijesh Sharma and Tushar Deshpande could feature in discussions. He also mentioned Ravi Bishnoi and Yash Raj Punja as possible options in a deal involving Jaiswal.
Mumbai Indians Need an Indian Wicketkeeper and Better Bowlers
While Hardik’s future remains uncertain, Ashwin believes Mumbai Indians have a few key areas to address. The former spinner pointed out that the franchise needs an Indian wicketkeeper and must also strengthen its bowling attack.
“MI desperately need an Indian keeper. They will also look to strengthen their bowling, which has been dismal the last few years. PBKS with Omarzai could interest MI. No one is talking about GT, but they could get involved by giving Rashid Khan for Hardik,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin also suggested that Gujarat Titans could enter the race by considering a deal involving Rashid Khan. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings could explore options involving Azmatullah Omarzai as part of their potential plans.
Ashwin Names Five Teams in the Race for Hardik Pandya
Ashwin believes several franchises could be interested in Hardik, although he does not expect Lucknow Super Giants to be among them. According to him, Chennai Super Kings, KKR, Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings are the main teams to watch.
“There are as many as six teams in battle for Hardik Pandya, is what I hear. But I don’t think that’s the case, as LSG aren’t in the race. It’s mainly CSK (Chennai Super Kings), KKR, RR, GT (Gujarat Titans) and PBKS (Punjab Kings),” Ashwin said.
The former India spinner also feels that captaincy may no longer be Hardik’s biggest priority when choosing his next franchise. Instead, the all-rounder could focus on finding a team that suits his needs and gives him the right environment to perform.
“I also think captaincy isn’t a must for Hardik anymore in his next franchise. He will just want to go to the ideal franchise for him, as he’s keen to move on from MI,” Ashwin added.
Mumbai Indians’ Performance Under Hardik Pandya
Mumbai Indians have experienced mixed results since Hardik took over as captain. Their performances across the 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons have included a disappointing finish, a playoff appearance and another difficult campaign.
In IPL 2024, MI finished at the bottom of the points table in 10th place. The team improved in 2025 and went to Qualifier 2, losing to Punjab Kings. However, Mumbai Indians struggled again in IPL 2026, finishing ninth in the standings.