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Hardik Pandya and Chennai Super Kings - (Source: AFP/X)
On Wednesday, July 1, CSK fans were delighted to learn that the five-time IPL winners have joined the race to sign Hardik Pandya. The MI captain was already in the news for wanting to switch teams for IPL 2027 after a disastrous season with Mumbai Indians.
For the unversed, Hardik Pandya was traded to MI in 2024. The star all-rounder has captained MI for three seasons and has failed to qualify for the knockout stage on two occasions. Talking about IPL 2026, Hardik faced a lot of flak for his underwhelming season, as a faction of fans also accused him of not giving his 100% for the franchise.
The 32-year-old scored just 206 runs in 10 innings, averaging just 22.89. Also with the ball, Pandya took just 4 wickets in 9 innings, with an economy of 11.43.
CSK Among 7 Franchises Looking To Sign Hardik Pandya
Earlier, KKR and Rajasthan Royals were the two franchises reported to be in touch with Mumbai Indians to trade Hardik Pandya. However, a latest report from The Times of India (TOI) stated that five other franchises, including Chennai Super Kings, have shown interest in signing Pandya for IPL 2027.
As soon as the report went viral, the internet buzzed and went into a frenzy. Social media users were quick to connect the dots, and the old pictures of CSK CEO Kasi Viswanath and Hardik Pandya together went viral.
What fuelled the rumours was the fact that CSK are in dire need of a star all-rounder as the Men in Yellow too had a bad season, finishing 8th, just above the Mumbai Indians.
CSK CEO Breaks Silence On Hardik Pandya
In the latest events, a report from RevSportz mentioned that CSK CEO Kasi Viswanath has denied the rumours of signing Hardik. Kasi added that the Super Kings franchise will hold a review meeting after MLC, and their camp is not in touch with the MI captain for a shocking move.
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“CSK has not even done the review of the season yet, and we will only do so after the MLC is complete. I am currently in the US. We have not spoken to anyone, and all that is being said about Hardik and CSK is untrue,” remarked the CSK CEO while speaking to Revsportz.
Why Is Hardik Pandya Looking To Leave Mumbai Indians?
According to reports, Mumbai Indians’ players were divided into two groups during IPL 2026. It seemed that the players couldn’t gel well with Hardik’s philosophy, and the 32-year-old was also bothered by the constant criticism.
There were demands for his resignation as Mumbai Indians’ captain, which could have possibly been the reason for Hardik to shift base and look for leadership roles in other franchises.
Why Hardik Pandya Will Be A Great Fit For Chennai Super Kings?
As mentioned above, Chennai Super Kings lacked a quality all-rounder in IPL 2026. They had Jamie Overton, who had a wonderful season, but the five-time winners were clueless when the English star left the IPL mid-season due to injury.
Kartik Sharma had a disappointing debut season, which forces CSK to rethink their middle-order options. Hence, Pandya’s experience and talent are a perfect fit for the five-time winners.
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