India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to leave Mumbai Indians and join Punjab Kings in a blockbuster player trade ahead of the IPL 2027 season. The proposed
deal will see India pacer Arshdeep Singh move in the opposite direction, bringing an end to Hardik's second stint with the five-time champions.
Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings have agreed to the swap, with the deal awaiting the necessary formal approval from the BCCI. Both franchises have reportedly exchanged Expressions of Interest as part of the prescribed trading process.
Hardik is expected to join Punjab as a player, with Shreyas Iyer continuing as captain. An IPL source confirmed that the all-rounder is happy to play under Iyer.
Mumbai Indians all but confirm Hardik Pandya Exit
Although the move has not been made official yet, Mumbai Indians made it all but clear with their social media activity on Sunday (November 8).
Hardik Pandya's absence from Mumbai Indians' Diwali social media post has further fuelled speculation surrounding his impending departure from the franchise ahead of IPL 2027.
Our #OneFamily wishes you a Diwali full of light, love, and happiness! 🪔💙What's your Outfit Of The Day? ✨ https://t.co/pUo0M57leu
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) November 8, 2026
The franchise shared a festive team photograph featuring several players from its men's and women's teams, including Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Harmanpreet Kaur, but the Indian all-rounder was notably missing. The omission has further confirmed Hardik's departure.
Hardik returned to Mumbai in 2024 and replaced Rohit Sharma as captain. However, his second stint proved challenging, with MI missing the playoffs twice in three seasons under his leadership. The India all-rounder was seeking pastures new at the end of IPL 2026 as a move away was heavily linked. And as the IPL 2027 season approaches, his departure is not all but confirmed.
Who will captain Mumbai Indians?
A number of names have already emerged as their potential next leader. Suryakumar Yadav has been speculated while Rohit Sharma's name has been the strongest. It is likely that the veteran India star will return as their captain next season. Tilak Varma is also a viable candidate for MI if they look for their next gen skipper.
