Hardik Pandya trade. CSK enters the race; seven franchises express interest |: Cricket News:

Hardik Pandya is set to leave Mumbai Indians.

New Delhi: Hardik Pandya has become one of the most wanted players since all rounders decided to leave Indians in Mumbai: (MI) after a disastrous campaign by the five-time champions in 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 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 captaincy armband. Meanwhile, KKR is looking for a captain, and RR, too, is ready to offer leadership and a senior role. It will be interesting to see how MI are positioned, given the strong interest in their captain.Communication channels are currently active between MI, CSK and KKR. While the three parties have yet to confirm anything, various options are being explored. Who will CSK release? Could it be an all-cash deal? Does KKR have a tangible asset to sell? Or will it be a road block like in the case of KL Rahul last year?CSK remained a patient observer as the buzz around Pandya’s move intensified. The five-time champions timed their entry as they did during the blockbuster trade involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran last season. At the moment, CSK is in a strong position to sign Pandya, but later hiccups cannot be ruled out as player trades remain a tricky business in the IPL ecosystem. The role of an influential person in the CSK set-up could hold the key to the direction of the trade.The most important aspect is player consent, and it will be interesting to see if Pandya wants to move to a franchise without the captain’s armband. Two respected former international captains also expressed interest, one offered the captaincy, but initial discussions did not materialize into anything meaningful. A new round of talks cannot be ruled out in the North, especially if the talks continue to progress in the South.Pandya may not be the only high-profile Indian cricketer to be linked with a trade this season. It is learned that MI must finalize the all-rounder’s move before considering the future of one of his teammates. MI and interested franchises are likely to factor in their negotiations for Pandya. Although it does not have a direct effect, it can influence the approach of the franchise in two possible transactions.

If MI agree to an all-cash deal for Pandya, will they do the same for his India and MI teammate? How do other franchises position themselves? There are no immediate answers, but an explanation is expected to emerge soon. One trade at a time.(We are contacting parties who are actively interested in Hardik Pandya trade for comment. The story will be updated as soon as they respond.)