Former India opener Aakash Chopra has noted that all but two teams are reportedly interested in signing Hardik Pandya ahead of the IPL 2027 mini-auction.
He suggested the best swap deals that could benefit the Mumbai Indians (MI) if they decide to give the Baroda all-rounder to the seven reportedly interested franchises.
Chopra highlighted that defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and former winners Sunrisers Hyderabad are the only two teams not too eager to rope in Hardik.
"It seems all teams are interested, or such rumors are spreading. Only two teams don't want him. They are RCB and the SunRisers Hyderabad. It's been heard that everyone else, including the Gujarat Titans, is interested. I am just wondering whether the Gujarat Titans would also be interested. Who can those seven teams give to Mumbai?" Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
As per various reports, Kolkata Knight Riders are in advanced talks to rope in Hardik and offer him captaincy role. Chopra suggested that Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Anukul Roy, and Varun Chakaravarthy are four players MI will be interested in.
"Mumbai don't need an opener. You (KKR) have only Rinku Singh in the lower order, but that won't be a direct swap. What will they get by taking Rinku and releasing Hardik, unless you can give either Harshit Rana or Varun Chakaravarthy with him? The best will be Rinku Singh and Harshit Rana. Harshit and Anukul will be the second-best combination, and the third-best will be to get Anukul with Rinku," he observed.
Chopra teased the possibility of Hardik going to LSG, with Nicholas Pooran and Mohsin Khan joining the Mumbai-based franchise.
"Who can LSG give? They can still give Nicholas Pooran, but Mumbai don't need Nicholas Pooran alone that much. They will need either Mohsin Khan or Prince Yadav with him. They won't give Prince. The minimum requirement will be Mohsin. They won't settle on Akash Singh. LSG can also say that if they need Mohsin as well, give us Santner," Chopra elaborated.
Chopra said that had he been a decision-maker in the MI franchise, he would immediately trade Hardik to the Delhi Capitals had he managed to get Axar Patel and Ashutosh Sharma in return.
"Delhi can give Axar Patel. Along with him, a lower-order batter will be required. They will think about Ashutosh Sharma for sure. Can they give Axar and Ashutosh? Then I will sign the deal right away. Axar Patel will be a phenomenal asset, and if they get Ashutosh with him, lower-order batting as well," he noted.
"There will be interest if they give Arshdeep" - Aakash Chopra on the best trade deal involving Hardik Pandya between MI and PBKS
Chopra feels that MI could be interested in trading Hardik to the Punjab Kings if they can get Arshdeep Singh in return. According to the former Delhi captain, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, and Harpreet Brar are other players MI might be interested in.
"Who can Punjab give? Will Punjab give Arshdeep Singh? There will be interest if they give Arshdeep. You might ask for Nehal or Shashank along with him. Although Punjab's bowling problem won't get resolved with Hardik, the problem of experience can get solved. Will you want to give Marco Jansen? You can give Marco Jansen and Harpreet Brar with him," he said.
Rajasthan Royals are reportedly one of the more interested sides to bag the services of Hardik. While rumours suggest that Yashasvi Jaiswal could be traded to the Mumbai Indians in order to sign Hardik, Chopra said that signing the talented opening batter won't help the five-time champions address their bowling woes.
"Yashasvi might have said that he wants to leave, but their problem doesn't get solved with Yashasvi. I get it that he could be a future investment, as you would get a successor for Rohit Sharma, but their bowling problem and lower-middle-order problem because of Hardik leaving won't get solved. Can they give Yash Raj Punja? Nah. Ravindra Jadeja - no. The like-for-like replacement story isn't there here," Chopra elaborated.
Talking about the Gujarat Titans, Hardik's previous IPL home, Chopra opined that Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada are two potential players that might be targets for Mumbai Indians. However, the cricketer-turned-expert believes that the Shubman Gill-led side won't be interested in releasing either of their talismanic bowlers.
"Who can Gujarat give? I don't think they will be interested in this trade, but Mumbai can ask for Rashid. However, it's doubtful. You can also ask for Kagiso Rabada, but why would they release a Purple Cap-winning guy? In any case, I don't think this is likely to happen because he went from the Gujarat Titans only. Why would you want to go down that route? Shubman Gill is doing captaincy. Why would you assemble two alphas in this team?" he observed.
The 48-year-old said that CSK can also acquire the services of the legendary cricketer if they are willing to trade a batter like Shivam Dube, Ayush Mhatre, or Urvil Patel along with either Anshul Kamboj or khaleel Ahmed.
"CSK's Kasi Viswanathan has denied it, but if they want to give, Shivam Dube plus Anshul Kamboj, Ayush Mhatre plus Anshul Kamboj, Shivam Dube plus Khaleel Ahmed, and that's about it. Urvil Patel and Anshul Kamboj. I am just thinking that they can get a top-order batter and either Anshul Kamboj or Khaleel," Chopra noted.
