‘You lack all-rounders’ – Aakash Chopra suggests trade between LSG and MI involving Hardik Pandya

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has suggested a trade involving the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL). The trade deal involves all-rounder Hardik Pandya moving to the Uttar Pradesh-based franchise with West Indies international Nicholas Pooran going the other way.

Hardik’s future with the five-time champions looks bleak after they finished ninth in the standings under his captaincy. MI, therefore, could be in the market to trade their prized all-rounder to secure a couple of players from other franchises, something Chopra suggests could happen with the Super Giants. 

The former player-turned-expert suggests a potential trade which could see MI get Pooran and Mohsin Khan from LSG, with Hardik going the other way, something that could benefit both franchises. The left-handed batter has been part of the MI family for several years now, having represented MI Cape Town, MI New York and MI Emirates in three other franchise competitions worldwide. 

“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.  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?” Chopra said on his YouTube channel. 

Chopra also stated that instead of getting just Hardik, LSG could also ask for New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner, who would be a threat on the slowish Ekana pitches. 

“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 added.