Hardik Pandya has joined Punjab Kings ahead of the 2027 IPL season in a deal worth Rs 18 crore, moving from Mumbai Indians in a high-profile trade that also saw fast bowler Arshdeep Singh head the other way. Punjab Kings confirmed the swap, with Arshdeep moving to Mumbai Indians at his existing fee of Rs 18 crore.
Pandya announced the move with a message on Instagram, expressing his support for Punjab’s captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting. “Sat Sri Akal. My Captain. Shreyas. My Coach. Ricky. My team. All of Punjab. I am standing behind you,” he wrote, signalling his readiness to back the leadership and squad as the new season approaches.
The transfer ends Pandya’s second stint with Mumbai Indians, where he won four IPL titles during his time with the franchise. He first joined MI in 2015, contributing significantly to their championship victories in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. After a period away, he returned to MI in 2024 and took over as captain from Rohit Sharma, but the team struggled during that spell.
Throughout his IPL career, Pandya has played 162 matches, scoring 2,955 runs with a strike rate of 146.28 and taking 82 wickets. His move to Punjab Kings comes with a rise in his fee, from Rs 16.35 crore previously to Rs 18 crore.
Arshdeep Singh, who has spent eight seasons with Punjab Kings, made his IPL debut for the franchise in 2019. He has become one of the competition’s leading left-arm fast bowlers, taking 111 wickets in 96 matches and holding the record as Punjab Kings’ all-time leading wicket-taker.
The trade between the two franchises has drawn attention for exchanging two prominent players on similar contracts but in different roles, with Pandya’s all-round skills set to add depth to Punjab’s lineup and Arshdeep expected to strengthen Mumbai’s pace attack.
Both sides now prepare for the 2027 IPL season with fresh dynamics following this swap. Hardik Pandya’s new chapter with Punjab Kings begins under the guidance of Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting, as the team looks to build on recent campaigns.
According to Yahoo Sports.