Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes Mumbai Indians have emerged as the clear winners of the blockbuster trade involving Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh with Punjab Kings ahead of the IPL 2027 season. As part of the swap, Pandya will move to Punjab Kings, while Arshdeep will join Mumbai Indians. Both players will earn ₹18 crore at their respective franchises. While Pandya is expected to strengthen PBKS with his all-round abilities, Arshdeep’s arrival could address a major concern in Mumbai’s bowling attack.

Arshdeep is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals and has an impressive record at the Wankhede Stadium. The left-arm pacer has claimed 15 wickets in nine matches at an average of 14.93 at Mumbai’s home venue.

Speaking on Cricinfo, Irfan Pathan described Mumbai Indians as the biggest beneficiaries of the deal, arguing that Arshdeep’s presence would reduce the bowling burden on Jasprit Bumrah. “I think they (MI) are the clear winner in this trade because it will sort out their bowling,” Pathan said on Cricinfo.

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He acknowledged that Bumrah is capable of handling responsibility but pointed out that Mumbai need another reliable bowler who can consistently support the experienced fast bowler. Pathan believes Arshdeep’s ability to generate swing could prove particularly valuable, allowing Bumrah to operate more freely across different phases of an innings.

Pathan also highlighted another advantage for Mumbai Indians. Arshdeep’s arrival could allow the franchise to replace overseas pacer Trent Boult with an Indian option, freeing up an overseas slot and providing greater flexibility when selecting their playing XI.

However, the former cricketer believes Punjab Kings could face a significant challenge following Arshdeep’s departure. Although Hardik’s arrival will strengthen their batting and provide valuable all-round depth, Pathan feels the franchise could struggle to find an Indian bowler capable of filling Arshdeep’s role.

He also questioned whether Punjab have enough bowling resources to compensate for the loss, despite having options such as Xavier Bartlett and Vijaykumar Vyshak alongside Marco Jansen. “Punjab has done really well under Shreyas Iyer as a leader. So it will be very interesting how Hardik Pandya plays under Shreyas Iyer. If that happens nicely and smoothly, then things are very good for Punjab…”

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Pathan added that Hardik could provide the finishing strength Punjab need with the bat. However, he warned that losing Arshdeep could weaken their bowling attack considerably. He also expressed concerns about Yuzvendra Chahal’s recent numbers, suggesting that Punjab may struggle to replace Arshdeep’s consistent contributions. “They’ll be missing him big time,” he said.