'99.9% Pandya will go to CSK': Hardik's ex-teammate dead sure of MI captain's next destination in IPL 2027

Amid this growing uncertainty, Hardik Pandya's former India teammate Hanuma Vihari has shared an intriguing prediction regarding the all-rounder's next destination. Hardik-led Mumbai Indians (MI) endured a torrid IPL 2026 season, managing to secure just four win out of their 14 league matches.

Hardik Pandya will go to CSK: Hanuma Vihari

This disappointing run resulted in a ninth-place finish on the points table, marking another below-par campaign under his leadership. Consequently, the franchise is reportedly set to axe Hardik as captain and is even considering either releasing him ahead of the next auction or trading him to another team. While a definitive decision regarding his future with MI is only expected toward the end of 2026, speculation is already mounting.

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Meanwhile, while speaking on his YouTube channel, Vihari opined that the star all-rounder will likely join the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

"They can trade an all-rounder as well but the options are less. Hardik they won't get. I think 99.9% he will go to CSK. They have to somehow find a foreign all-rounder be it an Australian, or England, or South African. I feel that is the only loophole as such, otherwise the team is still set," Vihari said.

Hardik Pandya's history with MI

Hardik kicked off his IPL career with MI back in 2015, establishing himself as a core player and a regular fixture in their lineup until 2021. Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega-auction, he parted ways with the franchise to join the newly formed Gujarat Titans (GT), who immediately bestowed him with the team's captaincy. Under his leadership, the Titans enjoyed a fairytale debut season, defying the odds to lift their maiden IPL title. Hardik then guided them to a second consecutive final in 2023, where they finished as runners-up after a thrilling defeat against the Chennai Super Kings, marking his final appearance for the Gujarat franchise.

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In a dramatic turn of events, Hardik made a shocking return to the Mumbai Indians via a high-profile trade ahead of the IPL 2024 mini-auction. His comeback came with a massive condition, as the star all-rounder returned to his former team to take over the captaincy. To facilitate this transition, Mumbai Indians made the controversial decision to sack their five-time IPL-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, who was still serving as India's active all-format national captain at the time.

The leadership switch, however, triggered a highly turbulent period for the franchise over the subsequent seasons. In 2024, MI endured a disastrous campaign, finishing rock bottom at the 10th spot on the table. While they showed signs of recovery in 2025, their journey was cut short when they crashed out of the tournament following a loss to Punjab Kings in the second Qualifier. The downward trend returned in 2026, as the team failed to progress past the league stage once again, culminating in a dismal ninth-place finish.