Ahead of the upcoming seasons of the Indian Premier League, major changes are brewing within the Mumbai Indians camp. Although the official trade announcement for Hardik Pandya has not been made yet, a recent social media post by the franchise has left little doubt. The Mumbai Indians team shared several pictures on their official X handle to wish fans a happy Diwali, and notably, Hardik Pandya was missing from all of them.
The shared photographs prominently featured star players such as Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Jasprit Bumrah. Alongside these images, the franchise captioned the post stating that their One Family wishes everyone a Diwali filled with light, love, and happiness. This omission has made it evident that Hardik will no longer feature in the team's jersey for the upcoming seasons.
To recall, Hardik Pandya had made his high-profile return to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans for IPL 2025. Upon his return, he was handed the captaincy of the side, but under his leadership, the team's campaign suffered a massive downturn. Consequently, the massive gamble taken by the five-time champion franchise on Hardik failed to yield results, paving the way for his departure.
Meanwhile, discussions regarding a trade involving Hardik Pandya ahead of IPL 2027 have intensified. Reports suggest that Mumbai Indians are trading him to Punjab Kings, with the deal all but finalized pending an official announcement. As part of this major trade agreement between the two franchises, Arshdeep Singh is expected to move from Punjab Kings to Mumbai Indians, marking one of the biggest player swaps ahead of the tournament.
