A surprise twist in Hardik Pandya IPL trade talk? Ashwin names his frontrunners

Ravichandran Ashwin believes a move to Chennai Super Kings is unlikely for Hardik Pandya, suggesting that Rajasthan Royals could be leading the race to sign the Mumbai Indians all-rounder ahead of IPL 2027.Hardik Pandya to Chennai Super Kings a long shot, Rajasthan Royals lead race: Ashwin (PTI Photo)New Delhi,Oct 18, 2026 17:57 ISTFormer India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes Hardik Pandya's move to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is unlikely, despite speculation that MS Dhoni could play a role in bringing the Mumbai Indians all-rounder to the franchise. Ashwin also suggested that Rajasthan Royals could be better placed to sign Hardik if a trade takes place ahead of IPL 2027.Rumours of a possible move have gathered pace on social media as franchises prepare for the November 15 retention deadline. Hardik's potential switch to CSK has attracted attention, but Ashwin feels there is little reason to believe the deal will go through at this stage."There have been conversations that Dhoni will personally convince Hardik Pandya to come to CSK. It will be a great addition for CSK. But in my opinion, it is a real far-shot," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.The former India spinner then pointed towards Rajasthan Royals, suggesting they could be leading the race for Hardik's signature. "From what I've heard, RR are at the top of the list in the Hardik trade," he added.A recent report by Cricbuzz claimed that Hardik's chances of joining CSK had receded following Zaheer Khan's appointment as head coach. The report referred to a reported rift between Hardik and Zaheer during the latter's stint with the Mumbai Indians management. However, a new setup at CSK could change the equation. Mumbai Indians have reportedly held discussions with several franchises over a possible trade involving Hardik, although no deal has been officially confirmed. With the IPL auction scheduled for December, the coming weeks could prove important as teams finalise their plans for the next season.Hardik's future is not the only issue facing Mumbai. The franchise recently announced Mahela Jayawardene's departure as head coach, ending his second stint in the role. The Sri Lankan had returned ahead of the 2025 season after leading Mumbai to three IPL titles between 2017 and 2022.Mumbai finished fourth in 2025 before losing Qualifier 2, but their campaign unravelled in 2026 as they ended the season in ninth place. The franchise must now find a new head coach while deciding how to approach the retention deadline.- Ends