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India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has hinted at the possibility of leaving Mumbai Indians after several things did not work out and he is currently looking for his new home in the IPL. There have been reports that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) are interested in Hardik Pandya.
After a poor performance since their 2024 title triumph, KKR are in dire need of a strong captain and Pandya could be the best option. He has already proved himself as a captain in the IPL and remains one of the biggest match-winners in the shorter format of the game.
KKR eyes Hardik Pandya as next captain
Therefore, Kolkata Knight Riders may try to bring the Indian all-rounder to Kolkata and even hand him the captaincy role ahead of the 2027 season. But this plan will not be so easy and the reason for this is Abhishek Nair.
Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Nair have had a good working relationship over the years. Nair has supported Pandya many times during difficult times when he was India’s assistant coach. But when it comes to leading Kolkata Knight Riders, Hardik would not be willing to join hands with Nair.
Nair has been a powerful figure inside the KKR setup for a long time and wields significant influence in decisions. Pandya, on the other hand, would prefer a leadership role where he has complete control over cricket-related operations and feels secure.
Hardik Pandya unlikely to move on from KKR if Abhishek Nair remains in charge
Jagran News journalist Abhishek Tripathi claimed that if Abhishek Nair remains the head coach of KKR, there is a 99% chance that Hardik Pandya will not join the franchise as the all-rounder wants the freedom to take his own decisions and lead the team in his own way.
Therefore, if Pandya feels that he will not get complete freedom as captain then he may reject KKR’s offer. Another thing is that Nair has a very close relationship with Rohit Sharma and everyone knows how much drama Mumbai Indians had to face when Pandya took the captaincy from him. Meanwhile, R Ashwin expressed concern over the fitness of Hardik Pandya.
Rajasthan Royals could be Hardik Pandya’s new home
At the same time, Rajasthan Royals is also looking for a captain for a long time. This could make him a serious option if Pandya decides to explore opportunities outside Mumbai Indians. He wants to join a team where he feels fully supported and can build the team according to his vision, and Rajasthan Royals could be that home for the star all-rounder in the IPL.
Therefore, unless Pandya is assured that he will get complete authority over cricketing decisions, his move to Kolkata Knight Riders is not possible. In that case, Rajasthan Royals could be the frontrunner for one of the biggest names in the IPL.
Notably, Pandya is currently working on his game and fitness at the NCA in Bengaluru as he aims to be fully prepared for the ICC World Cup 2027. He already missed the Afghanistan series and is all set to miss the upcoming white-ball games in Ireland and England as well.