Former Indian player Kris Srikkanth urged the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to let go of Shivam Dube to acquire Hardik Pandya from the Mumbai Indians (MI). Following the 2026 IPL season, the Hardik Pandya trade talks made headlines in the off-season ahead of the mini-auction later this year. Several reports have stated that CSK could be among the front-runners to buy the ace all-rounder while trading Dube and Khaeel Ahmed.
Talking about this, Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel, Cheeky Cheeka, “If I were CSK, I’ll happily send Shivam Dube to MI. I’ll almost invite MI and plead with them to take Dube if I were CSK. But I doubt if MI will accept this trade as it’ll be a fantastic move only for CSK. Whether MI lets him go is still a question as well. Hardik will have unbelievable public support with CSK, unlike MI. But will MI do this and allow CSK to become stronger than them?”
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“Hardik Pandya will be a fantastic fit for CSK. He is the only all-in-one package that covers a middle-order batter, pacer and captain. He’s among the only genuine all-rounders at the world level. He has been a key factor in so many title runs with MI and India. CSK will benefit a lot with Hardik Pandya as they’ll boast a fearsome top five with Samson, Gaikwad, Mhatre, Brevis and Hardik,” he further added.
Kris Srikkanth also believes a Hardik Pandya-Gujarat Titans (GT) reunion is unlikely happen despite his past heroics with the franchise. However, he led GT in their first two IPL seasons in 2022 and 2023, with the side winning the title in the maiden year and finishing runners-up the following year as well.
“Hardik Pandya is right to want captaincy wherever he goes. He almost won it twice for GT as captain. But I don’t think he can go to GT again. It’s more rumours than any truth to it. GT already have Holder in the middle order, who is doing a good job as the all-rounder. So why will GT go for Hardik Pandya? That move is practically not possible,” Kris Srikkanth concluded.
