Hardik Pandya to leave Mumbai Indians for Punjab Kings in exchange for Arshdeep Singh ahead of IPL auction

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to join Punjab Kings from Mumbai Indians, with the two franchises agreeing to a player trade involving pacer Arshdeep Singh ahead of the IPL mini-auction.

Under the proposed deal, Arshdeep will move to Mumbai Indians, while Hardik will return to a new franchise after his second stint with the five-time champions. The trade is subject to formal approval from the BCCI.

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An IPL source confirmed the development to PTI. "The trade has been completed. Hardik is going to Punjab Kings and Arshdeep is moving to Mumbai Indians. Hardik is happy to play under Shreyas Iyer," the source said.

"It was the decision of the captain and the coach to trade Hardik for Arshdeep, who has been with Punjab Kings for a very long time and has become the player he is today following his success with the franchise," the source added.

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"For the owners, it was not an easy decision considering how Arshdeep has risen and performed so well for the franchise. However, the captain and the coach went ahead with this decision, and that is it," the source told PTI.

Hardik returned to Mumbai Indians in 2024 and took over as captain from Rohit Sharma. However, his second stint did not produce the expected results, with Mumbai failing to reach the playoffs in two of the three seasons under his leadership.

Arshdeep, meanwhile, has been a key member of Punjab Kings for several seasons. His consistent IPL performances helped him earn a place in the national side, and he is currently India's highest wicket-taker in T20 internationals.

Punjab Kings reached their first IPL final since 2014 under Shreyas last year. The team also made a strong start to the 2026 season but lost momentum in the latter half of the tournament and missed out on a playoff spot.

Hardik is expected to join the franchise as a player, with Punjab looking to strengthen their all-round options. However, the India international has not featured in competitive cricket since the previous IPL season due to a series of injury concerns.

The trade comes ahead of the November 17 deadline for player retentions, which the BCCI has extended to allow franchises to complete their transactions. The IPL mini-auction is scheduled to take place in Goa on December 16.

Punjab Kings are also considering releasing Marcus Stoinis and Nehal Wadhera ahead of the auction.

(With inputs from PTI)