New Delhi: Hardik Pandya has become one of the most sought-after players ever since the all-rounder decided to leave. Mumbai Indians (MI) after the disastrous campaign of the five-time champions in 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 acquiring the all-rounder. Only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) remained spectators. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) entered the race late but has now set up an exciting contest with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while Rajasthan Royals (RR) are also in the fray. Pandya is perfect 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, too, are ready to offer both leadership and a long-term role. It will be interesting to see how MI fares, given the strong interest in their captaincy.Communication channels are currently active between MI, CSK and KKR. While the three parties have not confirmed anything, various options have been 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 the one in KL Rahul’s case last year?CSK have been patient observers as the buzz around Pandya’s move grew stronger. The five-time champions timed their entry exactly as they did during the blockbuster trade involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran last season. Currently, CSK are in a very strong position to sign Pandya, but late hiccups cannot be ruled out as player trades remain a complicated business in the IPL ecosystem. The role of an influential figure in the CSK set-up could be the key to the direction of the trade.The most important aspect is the consent of the player, and it will be interesting to see if Pandya is willing to move to a franchise without the captain’s armband. Two highly respected former international captains have also expressed interest, one offering the captaincy, but initial discussions have not materialized into anything significant. A new round of talks cannot be ruled out in the North, especially if the talks continue to go up in the South.Pandya might not be the only high-profile Indian cricketer involved in a trade this season. It has been learned that MI will have to finalize the all-rounder’s move before addressing the future of one of his teammates. MI and interested franchises are likely to influence him in their negotiations for Pandya. While this may not have a direct impact, it could influence the franchise’s approach to both possible transactions.
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If MI agrees to an all-cash deal for Pandya, will he do the same for his India teammate and MI? How do other franchises stack up? There are no immediate answers, but clarity is expected to emerge soon. One trade at a time.(We reached out to parties actively interested in the Hardik Pandya trade for the comments. The story will be updated as soon as they respond.)
