The IPL trade window has brought to the fore more questions about the future of Mumbai Indians’ all-rounder Hardik Pandya and Kolkata Knight Riders are in the market of signing the all-rounder ahead of the IPL 2027.
The KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan is interested in bringing Hardik to Eden Gardens after two poor IPL campaigns, MyKhel reports. The trade is still in the rumor stage but it has become a big talk point ahead of the next season.
Mumbai Indians had a bad IPL 2026 season and finished at the bottom of the table because they were not consistent in the tournament. The bad season has led to some changes in the franchise and Hardik's future is now in high speculation.
KKR, though, have been searching for answers since winning the IPL title in 2024. Despite winning their third championship, the Kolkata-based franchise has failed to carry that momentum into the last two seasons, missing expectations and prompting a reassessment of their long-term strategy.
Shah Rukh Khan is more involved in discussions on the team's future because he has not been satisfied with the franchise's recent direction of action,” the report said.
It said, "SRK is unhappy with the lack of long-term vision and strategic direction that the team management has shown in the last couple of seasons. As a result, the KKR co-owner is now looking for a proven leader who can rebuild the franchise around a solid Indian core."
Hardik Pandya is as good as everyone else in world cricket. The 32-year-old is the kind of cricketer who has the ability to contribute as a captain, a middle-order finisher and a pace-bowling all-rounder. His ability to perform under pressure has been instrumental to India’s ICC T20 World Cup titles in 2024 and 2026, further enhancing his reputation as one of the game's premier match-winners.
The report says KKR are considering an all-cash trade instead of player swaps and this shows the value of the Indian star to the franchise. If it was completed, it would be among the biggest trades in IPL history and Kolkata would have a superstar player to build around for years to come.
Earlier in the off-season, rumours also surrounded Hardik in a possible swap deal involving Rajasthan Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. But KKR's interest has put a new dimension to the situation with the three-time champions now in serious pursuit of his signature.
Both the Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders have not yet commented on the speculation. Hardik Pandya's future in the IPL is expected to be another big story of the league in the coming weeks.
