Hardik Pandya trade: MI want CSK duo as part of swap deal

Hardik Pandya trade talks link Mumbai Indians to Shivam Dube, Ayush Mhatre or Dewald Brevis. A potential switch of allegiance for Hardik Pandya, from Mumbai Indians to Chennai Super Kings, has sparked talk of what could turn into one of the IPL's most significant.

, two distinct versions of the negotiations are currently doing the rounds. The figures being floated around offer an interesting window into how each side is valuing their assets.

What Happened

Hardik continues to occupy a rare space in Indian cricket, a middle-order batter who can also bowl genuine pace and lead a side, all while not counting against a team's overseas quota. He managed just 206 runs across the season, averaging 22.89.

• One scenario has Mumbai Indians pushing for both Shivam Dube and Ayush Mhatre in exchange for handing over Hardik, while an alternative version indicates CSK are reluctant to give up Mhatre altogether, instead proposing.

• Hardik's IPL 2026 numbers tell a different story than one befitting a marquee trade package.

• His only genuinely effective phase came between overs 12 and 16, where his economy dropped to a respectable 7.80.

Key Details

His death-over returns, an area he's traditionally relied upon, were similarly underwhelming, just 49 runs from 37 balls at a strike rate of 132.4. His bowling raised even bigger red flags, with only four wickets from 22.4 overs and an economy rate.

• Handing over a player whose IPL 2026 season featured no half-centuries and a bowling economy touching double digits, in exchange for a proven middle-order hitter like Dube, with or without Mhatre or Brevis thrown.

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• Looking at the numbers side by side, it's hard to argue against Mumbai Indians coming out ahead in either version of this proposed trade.

Why It Matters

The clearer of the two proposed deals to assess is the one involving Dube and Mhatre.

• He was particularly destructive during the death overs, striking 120 runs off 66 balls at a rate of 181.8, and was equally effective through the middle phase, scoring 81 runs from 47 deliveries at.

• Dube comfortably outperformed Hardik with the bat this past season, scoring 270 runs at an average of 38.57 and a strike rate of 158.82, surpassing Hardik across every major batting metric.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Yahoo Sports as more details emerge