New Delhi: Hardik Pandya has become one of the most sought-after players ever since the all-rounder decided to leave Mumbai Indians (MI) following the five-time champions’ disastrous campaign in the 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 have now set up an exciting contest with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) while Rajasthan Royals (RR) are also in the fray. Pandya is a perfect fit for CSK, especially in the post-MS Dhoni era, but there is no guarantee that he will wear the captain’s armband. Meanwhile, KKR is looking for a captain and RR is also ready to offer leadership and a long-term role. It will be interesting to see how MI positions itself, given the huge interest in its captain.Currently the communication channels between MI, CSK and KKR are active. While nothing has yet been confirmed by the three parties, several options are being 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 hurdle like the KL Rahul case last year?CSK has remained a patient observer as the rumors surrounding Pandya’s move grew louder. The five-time champions are timing their entry in exactly the same way as they did during the blockbuster trade involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran last season. CSK are currently in a very strong position to sign Pandya but late setbacks cannot be ruled out as player trades remain a complicated business in the IPL ecosystem. The role of an influential figure in the CSK structure 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 captaincy armband. Two highly respected former international captains also expressed interest, one offered the captaincy, but initial talks did not materialize into anything significant. A new round of talks in the North cannot be ruled out, especially if talks continue to accelerate in the South.Pandya may not be the only high-profile Indian cricketer involved in a trade this season. It has emerged that MI will have to finalize the all-rounder’s move before addressing the future of one of their teammates. MI and interested franchises are likely to take this into account in their negotiations for Pandya. While this may not have a direct impact, it could influence the franchise’s approach to the two potential transactions.
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If MI agree to a cash deal for Pandya, will they do the same for his India and MI teammate? How will the other franchises position themselves? There are no immediate answers, but it is hoped that clarity will emerge soon. One operation at a time.(We communicate with interested parties actively in the Hardik Pandya Trade to comment. The story will be updated as soon as they respond.)
