‘My captain Shreyas. My team Punjab’: Hardik Pandya reacts after foregoing MI captaincy and joining PBKS originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Hardik Pandya has made his position clear on who leads Punjab Kings.
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A short Instagram message after the trade drew plenty of attention from Punjab fans.
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The numbers from his last three seasons hint at why Mumbai changed course.
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Hardik Pandya has left no room for doubt about who will lead Punjab Kings in the next Indian Premier League season, as he hailed Shreyas Iyer as his captain after joining the franchise in a headline-grabbing swap from Mumbai Indians.
The trade sends Hardik to Punjab while India left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh moves in the other direction. Hardik will earn Rs 18 crore at his new home, a rise from the Rs 16.50 crore he was retained for earlier, whereas Arshdeep joins Mumbai at his existing retention value of Rs 18 crore.
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The move ends a difficult three-season second spell at Mumbai for Hardik, which began in 2024 and was filled with friction with fans after he took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma. The team also struggled on the field, and the results were far below what the franchise had hoped for.
Rather than seek a leadership role in Punjab, Hardik has said he is happy to work under Iyer as captain and Ricky Ponting as head coach.
He greeted the fans in Punjabi and then named the two men he will look up to, before pledging his support to the entire state.
Hardik wrote: “Sat Sri Akal, ਪੰਜਾਬ ❤️ My Captain. Shreyas. My Coach. Ricky. My team. All of Punjab. I am standing behind you.”
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MORE: Pandya moves to PBKS: MI trade star all-rounder to Punjab Kings
After seven seasons with Mumbai, he moved to Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2022 and led them to the trophy in their very first year. The side then reached the final again in 2023, before Hardik returned to Mumbai in 2024 and took over as captain.
Hardik’s return to Mumbai did not go as planned, as the numbers show. He managed 647 runs in 39 matches and 35 innings at an average of 21.53, with a best score of 48 not out. With the ball, he picked up 29 wickets at an average of more than 34.
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The team results were no better. Mumbai finished at the bottom of the table in 2024 and in ninth place in 2026, while the only bright spot was a playoff appearance in 2025.
On the other hand, Arshdeep leaves Punjab after eight seasons, having made his IPL debut with them in 2019. He has taken 111 wickets in 96 matches, which makes him the franchise’s all-time leading wicket-taker.
MORE: The Hardik-Arshdeep trade: Who stands to gain? MI or PBKS?
Hardik’s post may be only a few lines long, but it does a lot of work. By naming Iyer as his captain before a ball has been bowled, he has shut down a debate that could easily have become a distraction, and he has also shown a humility that was apparently missing from the public image of his Mumbai years.
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At Wankhede, his time as Mumbai captain was clouded by fan unrest and poor results. A clean break gives him the chance to play without that burden, and a supporting role may bring out the best in an all-rounder who is a rare asset to Indian cricket.
For Punjab, the arrangement looks well thought out. Iyer remains the face of the team, Ponting sets the plans, and Hardik adds the finishing touch and extra seam bowling that the squad needed. If he can recover the form that made him a champion with Mumbai and Gujarat, the gamble will look excellent.
The real test will come when the tournament starts, and the pressure builds. Words on social media are easy, but a cooperative dressing room and strong performances will decide whether this trade is remembered as a masterstroke or just another headline.
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