Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has suggested a potential trade between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2027 auction. Chopra reckons MI can trade Hardik Pandya to LSG and in exchange, they can ask for Nicholas Pooran and Mohsin Khan.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians ended IPL 2026 in ninth place in the standings and according to reports, the franchise wants to release their captain after he could not lead from the front.
Pandya scored 206 runs in 10 matches at an average of 22.89 and a strike rate of 138.25 in IPL 2026. Furthermore, he could only pick four wickets in 10 games at a high economy rate of 11.42. Thus, he could not deliver consistently for the franchise.
“MI can think about giving Hardik Pandya. You (LSG) can keep him as a captain or a middle-order batter. You lack all-rounders, and you will get an all-rounder, but we need two things from you in return. Give us Nicholas Pooran because he is part of the MI setup. So they know how to handle Nicholas Pooran,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“The Wankhede Stadium will suit him as well. We need Mohsin Khan along with him. They won’t let Prince Yadav and Mayak Yadav go. Mohsin is a tall bowler and gets extra bounce. Can they ask for him from them?” he added.
Chopra reckons LSG might ask for Mitchell Santner along with Hardik Pandya to make themselves a potent unit.
“Then LSG might also turn back and say that Hardik alone won’t do, but we need Mitchell Santner as well. It is not a bad thought because they have Kuldeep Yadav, but if they get Mitchell Santner as well, with Kuldeep, Santner, and Hardik, suddenly LSG will start looking like a robust unit,” he observed.
The former Delhi cricketer believes LSG and MI might not agree to trade out Mohsin Khan and Mitchell Santner, respectively.
“The other team will have Nicholas Pooran and Mohsin Khan. Again, not a bad swap. If that discussion is happening, it’s a very good trade. Both teams might not agree. MI might not at all be ready to let Mitchell Santner go, and LSG might not be ready to let Mohsin Khan go, and the Hardik and Nicholas Pooran trade might not seem that exciting for MI,” he said.
LSG has already traded out Rishabh Pant to the Delhi Capitals in exchange for Kuldeep Yadav.
