'What if, in his place, you get two?…': Chopra on Hardik's potential trade

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Former Team India’s cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027, Mumbai Indians (MI) can begin with a potential trade involving premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

He also feels that the Mumbai-based franchise has a balanced squad but may need an Indian spinner or a pacer ahead of the season.

“If everything had gone well last season, looking at their team, you feel like, ‘Why change anything at all?’ They have the balance, they have the experience, they have the explosiveness. So why change? Maybe they need an Indian spinner or an Indian fast bowler, which they will find. But that’s all that they needed to do. But then the major talk of the town is the trade of Hardik Pandya. That is where it is going to start for MI in terms of their decision-making on retentions and releases because you don’t usually find a player like that. But what if, in his place, you get two?,” he said on JioStar.

The former cricketer also said that the “Men in Blue and Gold” would need to retain Pandya if they fail to find suitable players in exchange for him.

“Hardik Pandya will be a trade; it’s not going to be a release or retention question. So, if, in exchange for him, you cannot find players, then you have to retain Hardik Pandya. There is no doubt about it,” said Chopra.

Earlier, Cricinfo reported that MI and Punjab Kings (PBKS) are in talks to trade Pandya in exchange for Arshdeep Singh ahead of the upcoming mini-auction.

The report added that the trade is currently in the process of being finalised, with both franchises having submitted expressions of interest to the IPL. The next step is to obtain written consent from the two players, which is expected within the next 24 hours, following which the franchises will hold final negotiations before the deal is ratified by the IPL.

Pandya and MI held several discussions since the latter part of IPL 2026, after which the all-rounder informed the franchise of his desire to be released. MI subsequently explored potential trade options with almost all franchises, except Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

(With ANI Inputs)

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