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Outgoing Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has emerged as the biggest name in the IPL trade market, with reports suggesting the five-time champions are keen to part ways with the star all-rounder after a disappointing IPL 2026 season.
According to a TOI report, seven franchises have shown interest in buying Hardik Pandya. Chennai Super Kings have reportedly joined the race along with Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, while other teams are also exploring possibilities.
However, the report claims that so far only Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are away from the race. While Hardik is one of the most valuable Indian players in T20 cricket, a look at the team composition of both the franchises reveals several reasons why RCB and SRH may not look to sign him on priority basis in IPL 2027.
Why might RCB not be interested in Hardik Pandya?
RCB have won two consecutive IPL titles and have built a squad that already contains several players capable of playing a similar role to Hardik Pandya.
Unlike some franchises, who are actively looking for an Indian all-rounder or captain, Bengaluru have a relatively settled squad. As a result, it would not be necessary to acquire Hardik despite his stature.
RCB have already decided their all-rounder and finisher roles
Hardik Pandya’s biggest strength is his ability to contribute with his bowling and finish matches in the lower middle order. However, RCB already has several players who hold the same positions in the playing eleven.
Their team includes Venkatesh Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethel and even Tim David.
Hardik Pandya will undoubtedly improve the team, but he will also overlap the roles already covered rather than address a major weakness.
Krunal Pandya’s presence reduces urgency
Another important factor could be the presence of Krunal Pandya. The experienced all-rounder already provides balance with both bat and ball and also brings leadership experience to the team.
Although Hardik Pandya is the more impactful T20 player overall, RCB may not see the need to invest heavily in another high-profile all-rounder when Krunal is already playing a similar balancing role in the team structure.
There have also been rumors of rift between the two brothers and if it is so then the atmosphere of the RCB team will get spoiled.
RCB’s batting corps is already settled
RCB’s probable batting order already looks strong and settled. The probable lineup could include Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Venkatesh Iyer, Tim David and Jitesh Sharma.
Hardik Pandya naturally operates between No. 5 and No. 7.
The challenge is that RCB already have Tim David, Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd competing for those positions. As a result, Hardik will be strengthening an area where RCB already has a number of options rather than filling the vacant role.
RCB may prioritize bowling depth over any other all-rounder
If Mumbai Indians demand significant compensation as part of a trade, RCB may decide it would make more sense to invest those resources elsewhere.
Their bigger concern may be to strengthen their bowling reserves rather than adding another premium all-rounder.
Successful franchises often avoid making expensive moves unless they solve a specific problem, and Hardik Pandya may not fit into that category for Bengaluru.
leadership is no longer a necessity
Hardik’s biggest attraction is his captaincy experience. However, RCB already have Rajat Patidar leading the team and have finally achieved stability in the leadership department.
This means that Bengaluru will make Hardik a mere player rather than a captain, which will naturally reduce his overall value to the franchise.
Why might SRH not be interested in Hardik Pandya?
If RCB’s decision can be linked to team balance, SRH’s argument may be even more straightforward.
The Hyderabad-based franchise already has a number of qualities that Hardik Pandya will bring to the team.
Nitish Kumar Reddy is already developing into SRH’s long-term all-rounder
This is arguably the biggest reason why Nitish Kumar Reddy has emerged as one of the most exciting young Indian all-rounders in the country.
He offers power-hitting, useful fast bowling, long-term ability and Indian core values in the middle order
SRH have spent several seasons developing him and may not want to stunt his development by bringing in another player who plays a similar role.
While Hardik is the better player currently, franchises rarely invest heavily in a star when they already have a young option developing at the same position.
No vacancy for captaincy in SRH
When captaincy is part of the package, the value of Hardik Pandya increases significantly. At SRH, that opportunity simply does not exist as Pat Cummins remains the leader of the project and remains one of the most important men in the franchise.
After guiding SRH to the IPL final and changing their culture, Cummins remains at the center of Hyderabad’s plans. Apart from Pat Cummins, SRH have Ishan Kishan, who has proved his leadership skills at the IPL level, as a result, SRH will get Hardik only as an all-rounder rather than the captain.
SRH’s batting unit is already loaded
Hyderabad already has one of the strongest batting groups in the competition. Their core includes Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen
The inclusion of Hardik Pandya will certainly add to the quality of the team, but it will be more of a luxury addition than a necessity.
SRH may like to invest in bowling upgrades
If significant resources become available, Sunrisers Hyderabad may find that strengthening their bowling attack provides better value than acquiring another batting all-rounder.
Their batting unit already has enough firepower to take on any team in the competition. As a result, Hardik Pandya cannot be seen as the missing player.
Hardik is one of the best all-rounders in world cricket. However, franchises are increasingly focusing on long-term squad planning. SRH already have a young Indian all-rounder in Nitish Kumar Reddy whom they can groom for the next five to seven years. This long-term view could make a blockbuster move less attractive for Hardik.
Purse considerations can also play a role
Another factor that cannot be ignored is finances. RCB ended the auction with only ₹0.25 crore left in their purse, while SRH had ₹5.45 crore left after finalizing their squad.
Any potential trade of Hardik Pandya is unlikely to come cheap, especially considering his stature and market value. If Mumbai Indians are demanding significant compensation, both franchises may simply feel that the cost does not justify disrupting already settled teams.
