The initial paperwork for the exchange has been completed, with both players giving their consent to the move. However, this deal Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) The required formal approval has not been received from the IPL, which means the franchises are yet to make an official announcement.
Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh will retain their current IPL salaries
The proposed exchange is a direct player-to-player trade, with no third player involved. According to reports, both the franchises have agreed to retain the existing contract values of both the players, meaning there will be no change in anyone’s salary after the switch. Hardik will continue to receive the salary of INR 16.35 crore he received at Mumbai Indians.
Meanwhile, Arshdeep will retain his INR 18 crore salary, which was secured by Punjab Kings through the Right to Match (RTM) card during the IPL 2025 mega auction. The trade was first discussed a week ago, but according to reports the players took time to complete the necessary paperwork, causing a delay. After further discussions, both players agreed to the move, and the franchise exchanged expressions of interest (EOIs) with the BCCI to proceed with the formalities.
Hardik ready to bring all-round value for Punjab Kings
Hardik’s proposed move will end his second stint with Mumbai Indians, where he returned ahead of IPL 2024 and took over the captaincy. The all-rounder previously represented the franchise between 2015 and 2021, then Gujarat Titans (GT) He joined IPL, whom he led to the IPL title in his debut season in 2022. Punjab Kings will now have an experienced Indian all-rounder, who can strengthen their middle-order and provide an additional fast bowling option.
His ability to contribute with both bat and ball could provide the franchise with a better balance for IPL 2027. However, Hardik is expected to join Punjab as a player and will not take over the captaincy. Shreyas Iyer Has been established as the captain of the franchise over the last two seasons and will likely continue to lead the team.
Arshdeep ready to strengthen the fast bowling attack of Mumbai Indians
For Mumbai Indians, Arshdeep’s arrival could fill a key need in their bowling attack. The left-arm fast bowler has been associated with Punjab Kings since his IPL debut in 2019 and has developed into one of India’s most reliable white-ball bowlers. Arshdeep has taken 111 wickets in 96 IPL matches for Punjab. His ability to swing the new ball and bowl yorkers in the death overs makes him a valuable addition to Mumbai’s bowling resources.
He Jasprit Bumrah Can form a strong Indian pace combination with , giving the franchise two established international bowlers with different strengths. Arshdeep’s presence will also provide Mumbai with more flexibility while selecting their overseas combination for the upcoming season.
