New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to join Punjab Kings from Mumbai Indians in a player-swap deal involving pacer Arshdeep Singh ahead of the IPL 2027 mini-auction, according to an IPL source.
The proposed trade will see Arshdeep move to the five-time champions, while Hardik will begin a new chapter with Punjab Kings. The deal has reportedly been completed between the two franchises but will require approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) before it becomes official.
An IPL source said Hardik was comfortable with the move and was happy to play under Shreyas Iyer, who is expected to continue as Punjab Kings captain.
Hardik Pandya’s Second Stint With Mumbai Indians Set To End
The move would bring an end to Hardik’s second stint with Mumbai Indians. He returned to the franchise ahead of the 2024 season and replaced Rohit Sharma as captain.
However, his second spell did not produce the expected results, with Mumbai Indians missing the playoffs in two of the three seasons under his leadership, as stated in the report.
Hardik is expected to join Punjab as a player rather than take over the captaincy. The franchise will look to use his batting and bowling abilities to strengthen its all-round department.
Punjab Kings Face Difficult Decision On Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep’s departure would mark the end of a long association with Punjab Kings. The left-arm pacer developed into an important part of the franchise’s bowling attack and went on to establish himself in the Indian team.
He is currently India’s leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals, according to the supplied report.
The IPL source said the decision to trade Arshdeep was taken by the team’s captain and coach, although it was not an easy call for the franchise’s owners given the pacer’s contribution over the years.
Shreyas Iyer To Continue As Punjab Kings Captain
Shreyas Iyer has led Punjab Kings over the past two seasons. Under his captaincy, the franchise reached its first IPL final since 2014 in 2025.
Punjab also had a strong start to the 2026 season but suffered a downturn in the second half, which cost the team a place in the playoffs.
With Shreyas continuing as captain, Hardik is expected to strengthen the squad as an all-rounder rather than assume a leadership role.
His fitness, however, will remain a factor. The India all-rounder has not played competitive cricket since the previous IPL season after dealing with multiple injury setbacks.
IPL 2027 Retention Deadline And Mini-Auction
The reported trade comes ahead of the IPL 2027 mini-auction. The BCCI has extended the player retention deadline to November 17, while the auction is scheduled to take place in Goa on December 16.
Punjab Kings could also consider releasing Marcus Stoinis and Nehal Wadhera ahead of the auction, according to the report.
The Hardik-Arshdeep exchange will become official only after the BCCI completes the required approval process.
