PBKS are reportedly set to get Hardik Pandya in trade from MI for Arshdeep Singh.
There are strong reports suggesting that MI and PBKS are in the final stages of completing the deal where PBKS gets all-rounder and ex-India captain Hardik Pandya, and in return, MI gets pacer Arshdeep Singh and keeper-batter Vishnu Vinod.
Analyzing the potential swap, Chopra highlighted how significantly the move would boost the Mumbai Indians' pace contingent.
"Hardik Pandya to Punjab Kings, huh? And from Punjab Kings, Arshdeep Singh and Vishnu Vinod, to Mumbai Indians. I mean, rumors are circulating that it is a very advanced-level conversation, and something like this could happen. And I'm thinking, uh, which team is going to be happier with this? And will it actually start another trade thing? Because connected to it, there are several wires linked together,” Chopra stated in a video on his X account.
Chopra further highlighted how massive MI is set to gain from this trade, as it will make their bowling very strong. MI already has the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, and Corbin Bosch, and adding Arshdeep Singh to the lot will make their bowling unit very strong.
"See, in my opinion, actually the Mumbai Indians will be quite happy if, alongside Bumrah, they get Arshdeep; along with them, Deepak Chahar is there, and Corbin Bosch you already have. I mean, uh... the numbers will become massive, man. Bumrah and Arshdeep are in the same team—this is, brother, Team India's bowling line-up! What better could you ask for than this?" Chopra added.
According to reports, Punjab Kings management is prepared to play Pandya exclusively as an all-rounder while keeping Shreyas Iyer as captain.
Due to his frequent injuries since IPL 2026, the 33-year-old Pandya has been the focus of numerous transfer rumors, including possible moves to the Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders.
In light of recent trade rumors concerning MI all-rounder Hardik Pandya ahead of IPL 2027, Chopra questioned Punjab's squad balance.
In response to Pandya's possible entrance, Chopra stressed that Arshdeep's release would leave a huge gap in Punjab's bowling department while also giving them an excess of all-round players.
"If something like this happens—because Punjab's weakness itself is their bowling. And if they let Arshdeep go from that, then they will have to make some other trades. Then maybe Marcus Stoinis will have to be let go, because how many all-rounders do you need? Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, and Azmatullah Omarzai—uh, you also have Suryansh Shedge. I mean, how many all-rounders plus Hardik Pandya? I mean, what will you do with so many all-rounders?" Chopra remarked.
"So, give Marcus Stoinis to someone else. Could it be LSG? Could it be, uh... I mean, the Gujarat team? Because Gujarat has fast bowlers to offer, Lucknow has fast bowlers to offer. Both need a batter in the middle order," he added.
The IPL 2027 mini-auction is scheduled to take place on December 16 in Goa.