Hardik Pandya-KKR Trade! Mumbai Indians Raise Demand For 2 Players

Hardik Pandya with KKR Team [Source: AFP]Hardik Pandya has become one of the biggest talking points ahead of IPL 2027 season. The Mumbai Indians captain is reportedly being linked with a move to another franchise after another disappointing campaign for the five-time champions.Speculation about Hardik's future started soon after IPL 2026 ended. Mumbai Indians finished ninth in the points table, which was a major setback for the team. It was also the second time since Hardik returned as captain that Mumbai failed to qualify for the playoffs. Although the team finished third in IPL 2025, the latest season has raised several questions about the team's future plans.KKR Have Shown Interest In Hardik PandyaMoreover, Hardik's recent social media activity has added fuel to the rumours. As a result, many reports have suggested that the India all-rounder could be on the move before the next IPL season.At present, there is no official confirmation about which franchise Hardik Pandya could join. However, several reports have claimed that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are interested in signing him for IPL 2027.Mumbai Indian Put Big DemandAccording to a News18 Bangla report, KKR are not the only team keeping an eye on Hardik. Rajasthan Royals are also reportedly interested in adding the experienced all-rounder to their squad.However, Mumbai Indians have reportedly placed a major condition in front of KKR. The franchise is said to have asked for young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi and all-rounder Ramandeep Singh as part of the blockbuster trade deal.Why Mumbai Indians Want Raghuvanshi And Ramandeep SinghAngkrish Raghuvanshi could be an excellent addition to Mumbai Indians because he is a Mumbai-born cricketer and has impressed while playing for KKR over the past few seasons.During IPL 2026, Raghuvanshi scored 422 runs in 12 innings at an impressive strike rate of 146.53. In addition, he has an outstanding domestic T20 record for Mumbai, scoring 1,156 runs in 45 innings with a highest score of 82 not out.Meanwhile, Ramandeep Singh is viewed as a possible replacement for Hardik Pandya. Although he is not yet at the same level as the Indian star, he offers similar all-round abilities and can contribute with both bat and ball.KKR Karavan @KkrKaravan 🚨 HARDIK PANDYA TRADE UPDATE : ▫️Mumbai Indians have asked for Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Ramandeep Singh in exchange for Hardik Pandya ▫️It is still unclear whether the deal will be an all cash transfer or a player trade — News18 Bangla 📰 Jun 25, 2026, 11:35 PM If the trade discussions move forward, it is still unclear whether the deal will be an all-cash transfer or a player swap.Also Read: Suryansh Shedge’s Rapid Rise Comes At The Perfect Time for IndiaIt is important to understand that IPL players cannot negotiate transfers directly with other franchises. Instead, all trade discussions must happen between the teams, while the player's approval is compulsory for the deal to be completed.If a player does not agree to the proposed trade, he cannot be forced to move. In that case, the player must be released into the IPL auction instead.Rajasthan Royals Also Show InterestMeanwhile, KKR are not the only franchise interested in Hardik. According to PTI, Rajasthan Royals also contacted Mumbai Indians regarding a possible swap involving Yashasvi Jaiswal and Hardik Pandya.However, it is still not known whether those discussions moved beyond the early stages.Also Read: Rarest MS Dhoni Moment Recreated In Women's T20 World Cup