Shardul Thakur Addresses Hardik Pandya Transfer Rumors
Shardul Thakur has spoken out regarding the recent speculation surrounding Hardik Pandya’s future with the Mumbai Indians. After Mumbai’s six-wicket victory over Punjab Kings on May 14, he dismissed the transfer rumors that have been circulating.
During the post-match press conference, Shardul acknowledged the buzz on social media but emphasized that such discussions often need to stay online. He clarified that Hardik is currently out of action due to an injury. “There’s a lot of talk on social media, some true, and some not. Ultimately, it’s the team management that makes the decisions,” Shardul stated.
Hardik did not travel to Dharamsala for the match against Punjab and has now missed the last three games of the IPL 2026 season. His absence has led to increased speculation about unrest within the team, with some reports suggesting he might be traded to Chennai Super Kings. This chatter has been fueled by the close ties between CSK’s CEO Kasi Viswanathan and former Indian captain MS Dhoni. Hardik has also been loosely linked to other franchises like Delhi Capitals following a tough season for Mumbai.
However, Shardul assured fans that Hardik’s unavailability is solely due to his injury and shared that he is currently in Mumbai for rehabilitation. “Regarding Hardik Pandya, he has an injury and couldn’t travel with the team. He went to Raipur but was unable to play there. Now, he’s in Mumbai training, and I hope he can return in time for the Kolkata match,” Shardul said. “We definitely miss a player of his quality when he’s not on the field.”
Mumbai is set to face Kolkata Knight Riders on May 20 at Eden Gardens. This season has been challenging for Hardik both as a player and captain. So far, he has scored 146 runs at a strike rate of 136 and taken only four wickets with an average of 61.
Despite missing Hardik and vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav, the Mumbai Indians managed to secure a win against Punjab Kings, thanks to Tilak Varma, who helped seal the victory with a big six on the penultimate ball of the match.
