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Is Hardik Pandya headed to Kolkata Knight Riders for next year’s IPL? There is no official confirmation from the IPL yet, but sources say KKR have rejected Mumbai Indians’ proposal involving Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh and are still keen on pursuing a cash deal for Pandya.
Whether the deal eventually goes through remains difficult to predict at this stage. However, indications are that Hardik has a strong chance of joining KKR — and could even lead the franchise, with the all-rounder himself keen on taking up the captaincy.
With a team like Chennai Super Kings also showing interest in Pandya and even offering players such as Shivam Dube and Khaleel Ahmed, Mumbai Indians aren’t ready to accept the deal. The five-time champions are eyeing Ayush Mhatre, South Africa’s Dewald Brevis and Anshul Kamboj in return. Therefore, the deal isn’t going through that easily.
Rajasthan Royals are another team interested in Pandya and wouldn’t mind a swap involving Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is still keen to lead an IPL side. But Hardik wants the captaincy, which could be a sticking point in Rajasthan.
Sources have also indicated that Lucknow Super Giants are interested in acquiring Pandya, but they aren’t ready to part ways with Nicholas Pooran and Mohsin Khan in a deal with Mumbai.
“With so many roadblocks, KKR looks like the most viable option for Pandya at this stage,” the source added.
With KKR also looking for a captain, Hardik perhaps fits the bill better than any other player. For now, the trade talks remain complicated, but if Mumbai Indians and KKR can find common ground, the five-time champions’ star all-rounder could well find himself in Kolkata next season.
