Hardik Pandya captained MI for three seasons from IPL 2024 to 2026.
As a result of the swap, the five-time champions are without a leader for the first time since Hardik took charge in 2024.
Although talk in cricketing circles has centered on Rohit Sharma possibly returning to the leadership role, with Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah as other contenders, MI has made it clear that they will not rush into a decision.
“As Mumbai Indians look ahead to the upcoming season, the franchise will take a considered approach to evaluating its captaincy options. An announcement regarding the team's captaincy will be made at the appropriate time," said MI in its statement.
The deadline to announce the list of releases and retentions is November 17, and the IPL 2027 mini-auction will happen on December 16 in Goa.
Hardik's departure signals the conclusion of a lengthy and eventful stint with MI. He joined MI in 2015 as an inexperienced youngster and grew into one of the top all-rounders in the shortest format of the game worldwide.
Before departing, he was instrumental in four of MI's title-winning seasons, and he came back in 2024 from Gujarat Titans (GT), whom he had guided to the IPL 2022 title, to assume the captaincy.
Pandya's transfer to PBKS brings a salary increase, with his fee rising to INR 18 crore from the INR 16.35 crore he received at MI. Arshdeep joins on his existing fee of INR 18 crore. Across 162 IPL matches, Pandya has scored 2,955 runs at a strike rate of 146.28 and claimed 82 wickets.
(IANS inputs)