Mumbai Indians To Go For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? Teams Who Might Be Interested In RR Opener

Teams that could trade Sooryavanshi [Source: AP]

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenage superstar from the Rajasthan Royals, has taken the IPL by storm with his maverick batter and his freak ability to snatch the game away in the blink of an eye. He has been RR’s best investment in the IPL, and the youngster, so far, has operated at a different level compared to other players.

He not only scores runs but scores them at a rapid rate as bowlers get frustrated, and even after playing 15 matches in the IPL 2026, no one has found a chink in his armour.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's dream IPL 2026 so far

He was touted as the one-season wonder by the cricket experts, but Sooryavanshi gave everyone a reality check with his breathtaking assault this IPL campaign. The left-handed opener has taken down some of the best in the business with utmost ease, including Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins.

In just 15 IPL 2026 contests, Sooryavanshi has amassed 680 runs, with an astonishing strike rate of 242. Such has been his dominance that Sooryavanshi has almost single-handedly dragged his IPL side in Qualifier 2.

IPL teams that can trade Sooryavanshi ahead of IPL 2027

With yet another blistering IPL campaign, Sooryavanshi is the hot commodity, and here are the IPL franchises who could be tempted to trade him in their squad ahead of the next season.

1) Mumbai Indians (Sooryavanshi in, Hardik Pandya traded)

After yet another disastrous IPL season, the Mumbai Indians need a complete rebuild, and that could start by bringing in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to their squad for IPL 2027. Not even in the wildest dream would RR release Sooryavanshi, so the only possible way to lure him into your squad is via a trade deal.

With Rohit Sharma not at his best form, and also getting older, the team needs a reliable opener for a long run, and who better than RR’s best player, Sooryavanshi? He would feast on Wankhede’s flat wickets, and the 15-year-old would instantly make MI a winning unit.

In exchange, the Mumbai Indians side could give Hardik Pandya away. The MI skipper has failed to deliver for three straight seasons, and RR also needs a solid all-rounder in their squad. With Sam Curran unavailable and Ravindra Jadeja not the same anymore, the Royals need a bit more depth in their middle-order, and Hardik could potentially solve it.

Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Record vs Gujarat Titans Before Qualifier 2 Of IPL 2026

2) Chennai Super Kings (Sooryavanshi in, Gaikwad, Dube traded)

The last time Rajasthan Royals were involved in a trade deal, the opposition team was the Chennai Super Kings. RR gave away their captain, Sanju Samson, and traded in Ravindra Jadeja, and Sam Curran from CSK.

A similar trade could be on the cards if CSK comes calling once again. Their opener, Ruturaj Gaikwad, failed badly in IPL 2026, and he was often criticised for his slow batting. While every IPL franchise has two explosive openers, the same cannot be said about the Super Kings.

Moreover, his captaincy in IPL 2026 has also come under scrutiny. The team desperately needs a world-class opener, and they could lure the Royals by offering not only Gaikwad, but Shivam Dube as well.

Dube will strengthen RR’s middle-order, and the franchise could be tempted if a reasonable offer comes in from the Super Kings.

3) Punjab Kings (Sooryavanshi in, Prabhsimran, Priyansh traded)

The Punjab Kings came close to winning an IPL title in 2025, but they lost against RCB. This season, they failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs as pressure increased on the team to get their maiden IPL trophy.

Their openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, were good in patches, but consistency was missing from their arsenal this campaign. As a result, the Punjab side could be interested in giving away both Priyansh and Prabhsimran in exchange for Sooryavanshi.

The trade deal looks reasonable since RR would be getting in two explosive openers, and PBKS will also get the player in the side who has been in high demand. If such a deal goes through, Sooryavanshi could potentially open alongside Cooper Connolly.

Also Read: Preity Zinta Gives Out 1st Public Statement On PBKS IPL 2026 Exit