November 4, 2026

Rajasthan Royals May Enter Race for Hardik Pandya: Punjab Kings Also Interested in MI All-Rounder

Sports/Alive News: The future of Hardik Pandya at Mumbai Indians is becoming a major talking point ahead of the IPL 2027 season. While Punjab Kings are reportedly interested in signing the all-rounder, Rajasthan Royals could also enter the race for his services.

According to a Cricbuzz report, Rajasthan Royals are considering a deal for Hardik. The franchise could offer players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravi Bishnoi to Mumbai Indians as part of a possible trade.

Earlier reports suggested that Punjab Kings were interested in bringing Hardik into their squad, with fast bowler Arshdeep Singh potentially moving to Mumbai Indians in exchange.

Rajasthan Royals’ Possible Trade Offer

Jaiswal scored 427 runs in 16 matches during IPL 2026, while Bishnoi played nine matches for Rajasthan. However, Mumbai Indians are reportedly looking for a deal that includes a fast bowler, which could make negotiations difficult for Rajasthan.

Why Mumbai Indians Want a Fast Bowler

Mumbai Indians are looking to strengthen their pace attack ahead of the next season. Trent Boult managed only two wickets in five matches during IPL 2026 and could be released by the franchise.

Suryakumar Yadav to Stay With Mumbai Indians

Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav is reportedly not part of any trade discussions. Mumbai Indians have indicated that they do not want to part ways with the star batter. Suryakumar also shared a video of himself training with the franchise on Instagram.

Rohit Sharma May Lead Mumbai Indians Again

Reports suggest that Rohit Sharma could return as Mumbai Indians’ captain for IPL 2027. Under his leadership, the franchise won five IPL titles.

The IPL retention deadline has reportedly been extended from November 15 to November 17. The final decision on Hardik’s future is expected to become clearer after the retention announcements.

If Hardik moves to Punjab Kings, he is unlikely to become captain because Shreyas Iyer already leads the side. A move to Rajasthan Royals or Kolkata Knight Riders could offer him a possible leadership opportunity.