Hardik Pandya to join Punjab Kings in player trade with Arshdeep Singh
Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings have agreed to a swap involving the two players ahead of the IPL mini-auction.
Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings have agreed to a player trade involving all-rounder Hardik Pandya and pacer Arshdeep Singh, according to reports from Telegraph India and Business Today. The deal will see Pandya move to Punjab Kings, while Arshdeep Singh joins Mumbai Indians.
An IPL source confirmed the trade has been completed, though the move requires ratification from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to become official. The source stated that the decision to swap the players was made by the Punjab Kings captain and coach.
Pandya will join the franchise as a player under the leadership of captain Shreyas Iyer. The all-rounder has not participated in competitive cricket since the last IPL season due to various injuries.
The trade ends Pandya's second period with Mumbai Indians, which began in the 2024 season when he took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma. During his time as leader, the five-time champions missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons.
For Punjab Kings, the move involves parting with Arshdeep, who is currently India's top wicket-taker in the shortest format. The source noted that while the decision was difficult for franchise owners, the captain and coach proceeded with the exchange.
The BCCI has extended the player retention deadline to November 17. This provides time for formalities before the mini-auction takes place in Goa on December 16.