KKR teases Hardik Pandya with video as IPL trade rumors swirl

Kolkata Knight Riders released a short video from the BCCI Centre of Excellence where their spinner Varun Chakravarthy is seen exercising while Hardik Pandya walks past him, prompting the caption "Wait for it". The clip quickly went viral, reigniting rumors that the Mumbai Indians captain may be transferred after a tough IPL 2026 campaign in which MI finished ninth. Pandya contributed 206 runs and four wickets in ten matches and has not played competitively since the season ended.

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin weighed in on a possible trade, saying MI should only agree to a KKR deal if they receive players like Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh, and noting that KKR would become a formidable batting side with Pandya. He also compared potential offers from CSK and KKR, highlighting the strategic implications for the franchises.