Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed Hardik Pandya to return as a dominant force in T20 cricket as his reported IPL 2027 trade from Mumbai Indians (MI) to Punjab Kings (PBKS) nears completion.

According to multiple reports, the trade agreement has been reached between the two franchises, which will see Hardik moving to PBKS while MI will get left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh in exchange.

Speaking on Sony Sports Network ahead of India's third ODI against New Zealand, Shastri described a fully fit Hardik as "the best in the business in T20 cricket" and warned rival teams of his match-winning potential.

Shastri suggested that spending considerable time away from competitive cricket due to injuries could work in Hardik's favour. He noted that the all-rounder will likely return "charged up" and eager to prove his capabilities in a fresh environment.

“You know, whenever he plays, if he’s fully fit, he’s the best in the business in T20 cricket. He’s a genuine match-winner,” Shastri said.

“And he might just be charged up. He hasn’t played cricket for a while, so he could be eager to come out there and show what he’s capable of.”

The high-profile franchise swap ahead of the IPL 2027 auction is awaiting formal ratification from the BCCI after both teams submitted their expressions of interest.

Hardik is expected to join PBKS strictly as a player under current skipper Shreyas Iyer. This follows a challenging three-season captaincy stint at MI, where the franchise missed the playoffs twice, including a ninth-place finish in 2026.

Hardik Pandya has been sidelined for nearly six months with injury concerns. The Indian team management and selectors have emphasized the need for him to prove his match fitness in domestic cricket before returning to top-flight action.