New Delhi, 12 November 2026 : Even before the IPL 2027 season, there is heat in the cricket world regarding the exchange of players. In the big trade between five-time champion Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya will now join the Punjab team, while India's star fast bowler Arshdeep Singh will be seen playing for Mumbai Indians.
After the trade of this big player, Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia has openly talked about the future of Hardik Pandya, his fitness, captaincy and the decision to drop Arshdeep from the team. He has clarified that Hardik will be seen playing a new role in the Punjab team and the franchise wants a long-term association with him.
Wadia had said that Punjab Kings needed an experienced and winning player like Hardik to win their first IPL title. He also expressed confidence that Hardik will not face any problem in playing under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer.
'A different Hardik Pandya will be seen in Punjab'
Ness Wadia, referring to the conversation with Hardik, said that both the parties are eager to live together for a long time.
According to him, Hardik also wants to take this association forward in the long term. Wadia had said that he had a good conversation with Hardik and he is completely ready for the new team. Fans in Punjab will see Hardik more experienced than before and showcasing his potential.
Wadia further said that Hardik is eager to share his experience and understanding of the game with the young players of the team. On the field, he can prove to be important for captain Shreyas Iyer and off the field for the support staff including head coach Ricky Ponting.
He called Hardik not only an excellent cricketer but also a big professional name. With Hardik's arrival, Punjab Kings are expected to benefit from cricket as well as brand and business.
There will be no obstacles in playing under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer
Hardik Pandya has previously made Gujarat Titans IPL champion under his captaincy. On the other hand, Punjab Kings have also performed well under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. In such a situation, discussion had started whether Hardik would now play under the captaincy of Shreyas or not.
Answering this question, Ness Wadia had said that there is a good relationship between Shreyas and Hardik. Both the players understand each other well. Moreover, head coach Ricky Ponting has also worked with Hardik in the past.
According to Wadia, Hardik's experience will be a big asset for the Punjab team. Till now he has played a role in winning five IPL trophies and three to four ICC trophies. The team will definitely benefit from the experience of such a winning player.
There was also discussion about Hardik's fitness.
Injuries have often become a hindrance in Hardik Pandya's career. Even in recent times, he is coming out of some minor injuries. Therefore, the question was raised whether his fitness was considered before including him in the team or not.
Ness Wadia admitted that all aspects, including Hardik's fitness, were evaluated before finalizing the trade. There was discussion about both its benefits and possible risks.
He called Hardik a fighter and said that he is a world class cricketer who has proved his ability. His arrival will add a lot of experience and ability to the team. Wadia had expressed hope that Hardik will remain injury-free and perform well in the future.
Leaving Arshdeep was an emotionally difficult decision.
To include Hardik Pandya in the team, Punjab Kings have traded their reliable fast bowler Arshdeep Singh to Mumbai Indians. Arshdeep was associated with the Punjab franchise for the last eight years.
Ness Wadia had admitted that the decision to bid farewell to a player like Arshdeep from the team was not easy. Having been in a relationship with her for eight years, this decision was emotionally difficult.
Wadia had said that Arshdeep has achieved many achievements in his career. He is personally proud of his performance. The Punjab Kings franchise and the entire country are proud of his achievements.
However, he did not rule out the possibility of Arshdeep returning to Punjab Kings in future. Wadia wished him good luck for his future career.
Bowling attack claimed to be strong even without Arshdeep
With the departure of Arshdeep, Punjab Kings may have to search for a good fast bowler in the next match. However, Ness Wadia is confident about the bowling combination of the current team.
Bowlers like Yuzvendra Chahal, Marco Janson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Yash Thakur and Harpreet Brar are available in the Punjab team. Apart from this, Hardik Pandya can also become a useful option in bowling.
According to Wadia, the team has many good bowlers who can be used in different situations. The more bowling options there are in T20 cricket, the easier it is for the captain and coach to formulate strategies. Suryansh Shedgay and Shashank Singh can also bowl as per requirement. Therefore, he said that the team composition was balanced.
Punjab eyes to win first IPL trophy
With the arrival of Hardik Pandya, the all-rounder department of Punjab Kings has become stronger. All-rounders like Marco Jansson and Azmatullah Omarzai are already present in the team. Now with the addition of Hardik, the team will get additional options in both batting and bowling.
Punjab Kings have not been able to win the IPL title till date. Therefore, in IPL 2027, under the guidance of the trio of Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting, the team will enter the field with the aim of becoming champion for the first time. Now it remains to be seen how beneficial this big player trade proves to be for Punjab Kings.