Representative image. G patkar, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why it matters
The swap would move MI's captain since 2024 to a rival and send India's leading T20I wicket-taker to Mumbai. It shapes the retained lists both teams must file by 17 November, and so what each needs to buy at the 16 December auction in Goa.
The Hardik Pandya trade that was talked about all week is now reported to be agreed. Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to swap the all-rounder for left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh before the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) and India Today reported on the evening of Saturday, 7 November 2026. None of the reports read describes an official announcement by either franchise or the IPL, and they say the deal still needs approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which runs the IPL.
What the news agencies and India Today reported on the Hardik Pandya trade
PTI quoted an unnamed IPL source as saying, “The trade has been completed. Hardik is going to Punjab Kings and Arshdeep is moving to Mumbai Indians.” The same source told the agency that Hardik was happy to play under Shreyas Iyer, who stays as Punjab’s captain, and that the call to give up Arshdeep was taken by the Punjab Kings captain and coach. According to PTI’s source, it was not an easy decision for the owners, given how long Arshdeep had been with the team.
The PTI report, carried by The Economic Times, Business Today and Rediff, says the swap is subject to ratification by the BCCI. India Today, in its own report, said the deal was “all but done”, that both franchises had sent their expressions of interest to the board, and that an official confirmation was expected within one to three days once the paperwork is finished.
A third account came from news agency Indo-Asian News Service (IANS). An IPL source told IANS the initial formalities were done and that the trade now waits for approval from the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council before any public announcement. IANS also said wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Vinod, whose name came up in earlier reports as part of the package, has been left out, citing another source.
So the status on Saturday night is this: three separate reporting origins say the two teams have agreed, and none of them describes an official announcement. Until the board signs off, the move is a planned trade, not a completed one.
Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh side by side before the IPL 2027 trade
The two players come to this IPL 2027 trade from very different seasons. The table below puts together what the reports read and the IPL’s own retention list say about each of them.
| Point | Hardik Pandya | Arshdeep Singh |
|---|---|---|
| Role | All-rounder, MI captain from 2024 | Left-arm fast bowler |
| IPL path | MI 2015 to 2021, Gujarat Titans 2022 and 2023 (title in 2022), back to MI before 2024 | With Punjab since IPL 2019 |
| How he joined his current team | All-cash trade from Gujarat Titans before 2024 | Kept by Punjab with a Right to Match card at the mega auction, matching an ₹18 crore bid |
| Retained for 2026 | Yes, one of MI’s 20 retained players | Yes, one of Punjab’s 21 retained players |
| Team’s IPL 2026 finish | MI ninth of 10, four wins in 14 matches | Punjab fifth, 15 points |
| Recent cricket | No competitive match since IPL 2026; shin problem | Playing India’s ODI series in New Zealand |
IANS counted 15 wins in 39 matches with him in charge: last place in 2024, a playoff spot in 2025 and ninth in 2026. PTI noted that MI missed the playoffs in two of the three seasons since he took over from Rohit Sharma.
Arshdeep’s numbers point the other way. PTI described him as India’s leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals, and his IPL career has been spent entirely at Punjab. The IPL’s retention release of 15 November 2025 shows Punjab kept 21 players for the 2026 season, the most of any team, with Arshdeep among them. MI kept 20, Hardik included.
Why Punjab Kings would trade Arshdeep for Hardik despite fitness doubts
PTI’s report noted concerns over Hardik’s fitness. He has not played competitive cricket since IPL 2026, PTI and IANS reported. IANS said a shin problem ruled him out of India A’s series against Australia A and of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the domestic T20 competition. SportsTak reported on 7 November that Baroda named a 15-member squad for that tournament without him, with his elder brother Krunal Pandya as captain.
Punjab Kings, according to PTI, want Hardik mainly for his batting and bowling together, and he would join as a player, not as captain. The team reached its first IPL final since 2014 under Shreyas in 2025, then faded after a strong start in 2026 and missed the playoffs. India Today said Punjab finished fifth with 15 points.
For MI, India Today said, Arshdeep would meet the team’s need for an Indian left-arm fast bowler and strengthen its pace attack. India Today also reported that Rohit Sharma, who led MI to five IPL titles, is expected to be named captain again for 2027. That has not been announced by the franchise either.
How an IPL trade goes through, and the dates ahead
A trade is separate from the auction. For this one, the reports describe these steps: the two teams agree, the players consent (Khel Now reported both had), the papers go to the BCCI, and the board and the IPL Governing Council approve before the franchises announce it. If the board clears this one, Arshdeep Singh joins Mumbai Indians and Hardik moves to Punjab Kings for the 2027 season. The Hardik Pandya trade is at the approval stage, based on the reports read. Other deals for 2027 have already passed it, including Rishabh Pant’s return to Delhi Capitals from Lucknow Super Giants with Kuldeep Yadav going the other way, as NewsPlainly reported in its piece on the IPL retention deadline.
- 3 to 6 November: first reports of talks between MI and Punjab, with Vishnu Vinod mentioned as part of the deal.
- 7 November: PTI, India Today and IANS report that the two teams have agreed the IPL 2027 trade and the papers are with the BCCI.
- Next one to three days: official confirmation expected, according to India Today.
- 17 November: deadline for all 10 teams to submit retained and released players, extended by the BCCI from 15 November.
- 23 November: player registration for the auction closes, as reported on 2 November.
- 16 December: IPL 2027 mini auction in Goa.
PTI also reported that Punjab are considering releasing Marcus Stoinis and Nehal Wadhera before the auction. The retention lists due on 17 November will show whether they stay.
Frequently asked questions
Has Hardik Pandya been traded to Punjab Kings?
Not officially yet. PTI, India Today and IANS reported on 7 November 2026 that MI and Punjab Kings have agreed the swap, but the BCCI still has to approve it before the teams announce it.
Who is going to Mumbai Indians in the Hardik Pandya trade?
Left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, who has played for Punjab Kings since 2019. IANS reported that Vishnu Vinod, named in earlier reports, is not part of the deal.
Will Hardik Pandya captain Punjab Kings?
No. PTI and India Today reported that Shreyas Iyer will continue as captain and Hardik would join as a player.
When is the IPL 2027 auction?
The mini auction is scheduled for 16 December 2026 in Goa. The deadline for teams to submit retained players is 17 November.