Team India and Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya could become a part of one of the biggest trading in IPL history ahead of the 2027 edition. According to reports, the seam-bowling all-rounder could go to the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2027 after a forgettable outing for the Mumbai Indians in the 2026 edition, with off-field troubles also reportedly mounting for the star cricketer. But the big question is who will the Mumbai Indians get in return?
Who will the Mumbai Indians get in return if Hardik Pandya moves to the Rajasthan Royals?
While there is no official update on the trade, reports claim that the Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals are in talks. As per the report, opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal will be traded to the Mumbai Indians. Jaiswal, who made his IPL debut in 2020 for the Royals, has been with the same franchise this year. While the left-hander has been a pivotal figure in the Royals’ ranks, including playing some memorable knocks, IPL 2026 was an underwhelming season for him by his standards.
In 16 matches, the southpaw managed 427 runs at 30.50 but maintained a healthy strike rate of 152.50. While Jaiswal started the season in promising fashion, his form tapered off and played more in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s shadow. With Jaiswal also playing his domestic cricket in Mumbai, the left-hander would hope to string together a strong season in IPL 2027.
IPL 2026: How did Hardik Pandya perform for the Mumbai Indians?
While the Mumbai Indians finished at 9th with only four wins in 14 matches, Pandya’s returns with both bat and ball left a lot to be desired too. In 10 games, the 32-year-old managed only 206 runs at 22.89 alongside a decent strike rate of 138.26. With the ball, he managed only four wickets at 64.75. Mumbai Indians’ four wins came against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Gujarat Titans and the Punjab Kings.
The inconsistent run of Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma also hurt the five-time champions significantly. Hence, they may need to undergo a revamp the following season. In more trading news, Rishabh Pant is likely to return to the Delhi Capitals, while Kuldeep Yadav will ply his trade for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
