MS Dhoni’s Role Behind Hardik Pandya’s MI To CSK Trade Revealed

Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni [Source: AFP]

MS Dhoni might still have a say within the CSK franchise, despite having not played a single game for them this IPL 2026 season owing to his injury concerns. The former Indian captain has recently recommended Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya to the CSK management as his potential successor. 

It is worth noting that Dhoni stepped down as CSK captain prior to the IPL 2024 season, making way for then rising star Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead the side. 

However, under Gaikwad’s leadership, the CSK franchise is yet to qualify for the playoffs, and they finished eighth in this year’s IPL 2026 season. 

Hardik Pandya likely to join CSK as Dhoni’s successor

Hardik Pandya will likely be traded off by the Mumbai Indians following his team’s lackluster finish this IPL 2026 season. Pandya’s former national teammate MS Dhoni has now reportedly recommended the CSK franchise to nab the star all-rounder for next year’s IPL 2027. 

As reported by CricBlogger, a source familiar to the development said “Dhoni and Hardik share a very close bond. If Dhoni is not returning to CSK, he suggested Hardik’s name as a possible successor. Both are exceptional all-rounders and natural leaders, and Hardik’s presence would only strengthen CSK.”

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Even though Hardik Pandya led the Gujarat Titans franchise to a historic IPL 2022 win, the all-rounder has been struggling to replicate the success for the Mumbai Indians since becoming their captain in 2024. 

In his three years of captaincy, the Mumbai Indians franchise failed to make it to the playoffs twice, and lost to Punjab Kings in the knockout stage of the IPL 2025 season last year. 

There is also a growing belief that Pandya has had a dressing room fallout with former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma as well as with Suryakumar Yadav. Such rumors have strengthened reports that the all-rounder might be either released and traded out by the MI management ahead of next year’s IPL auction. 

CSK looking for MS Dhoni’s successor

Much like the Mumbai Indians franchise, the CSK management is also facing a captaincy dilemma ever since MS Dhoni stepped down from the role back in 2024. Under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, the CSK franchise is yet to qualify for the playoffs.

In this year’s IPL 2026 season, CSK managed to secure just six wins and lost eight matches from 14 games to finish eighth on the 10-team points table. 

With MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya sharing a close bond since their India playing days, it is hardly surprising that the former CSK skipper has reportedly backed the all-rounder as a potential leader for the franchise's future. 

Pandya struggling with injury concern

As of now, Hardik Pandya is struggling with an injury concern. His injury prompted him to play just 10 matches for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026, and it has also ruled him out of India’s upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan and from the T20I tours of Ireland and England. 

Whether Hardik ultimately joins the CSK remains to be seen, but his future at the Mumbai Indians franchise is expected to be one of the biggest talking points ahead of the IPL 2027 season.

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