CSK Rival KKR To Make Shock Late Move For Hardik Pandya

CSK enter race to sign Hardik Pandya (Source: AFP Photos)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) could sign Hardik Pandya for IPL 2027. The five-time IPL champions entered late to sign the Mumbai Indians (MI) captain, who is looking for another destination for his future.

Earlier, it was reported that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and MI had already had multiple discussions about the Hardik Pandya trade deal. Now, with CSK joining the race, things could change completely.

The Times of India (TOI) reported that along with KKR and CSK, five other IPL franchises have shown interest in signing Hardik Pandya. Only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have not contacted MI for the blockbuster opportunity.

No Captaincy Offered From CSK For Hardik Pandya

Prior to the KKR buzz, Hardik was linked to joining Rajasthan Royals, potentially with a trade deal involving Yashasvi Jaiswal going the other way. However, the inaugural IPL champions recently made Riyan Parag their captain, and Hardik might look for leadership responsibility.

KKR, on the other hand, desperately look for a captain since Shreyas Iyer’s departure. They made Ajinkya Rahane captain for two seasons, but the results were not fruitful. Therefore, Hardik joining KKR became the most ideal scenario for both parties.

Also Read: Hardik Pandya Quits Mumbai; Makes Bengaluru His New Home

However, CSK, in all likelihood, have not offered a straightforward captaincy offer to Hardik. They made Ruturaj Gaikwad MS Dhoni’s successor and brought in Sanju Samson to help him. In fact, they previously claimed there was no interest in him.

Thus, Hardik, if he agrees to join CSK, might not get the leadership role there, an offer firmly put by KKR. The TOI report further revealed that KKR, CSK and MI are currently the active IPL teams having discussions around Hardik Pandya.

No Concrete Decisions Not Made Yet Regarding Hardik

KKR had the likes of Matheesa Pathirana, Rinku Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi involved in a potential Hardik Pandya trade; if not, it turned out to be an all-cash deal. However, for CSK, despite being the frontrunner to land him for IPL 2027, it remains to be seen exactly how the deal will unfold.

Don’t be surprised if all three teams – KKR, CSK and MI – join together to make moves for Hardik Pandya. With Hardik surely leaving MI, all teams can look for their best possible requirements to find a solution to the situation.

Ever since Hardik rejoined MI after helping Gujarat Titans win the IPL title as captain, things have not gone well for him. Firstly, he was booed by Wankhede fans for replacing their beloved Rohit Sharma. After that, due to a few contributions with the bat and ball, he was at the receiving end of most of the criticism.

Also Read: Venkatesh Iyer Addresses RCB’s 49 All Out vs KKR, Picks Sides