'My captain. Shreyas"- Hardik Pandya’s first message after joining PBKS

Hardik Pandya joined Punjab Kings in Rs 18 crore trade deal.

Punjab Kings have made a big change to their squad ahead of IPL 2027 by signing Hardik Pandya from Mumbai Indians. The all-rounder will join the franchise for Rs 18 crore after spending the last three seasons with MI.

The trade was officially confirmed on November 11, with Arshdeep Singh moving to Mumbai Indians in a direct player swap. Hardik will now play for his third IPL franchise after representing MI and Gujarat Titans.

Hardik Pandya’s post for PBKS goes viral

After the announcement, Hardik shared his first message for his new team on social media. He welcomed Punjab and also made it clear that he will play under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy.

Hardik wrote, “Sat Sri Akal, ਪੰਜਾਬ ♥️ My Captain. Shreyas. My Coach. Ricky. My team. All of Punjab. I am standing behind you.”

The message also mentioned head coach Ricky Ponting and showed his support for the team’s leadership group.

Hardik’s post is important as there had been discussions about his possible captaincy role after joining Punjab Kings. However, he has openly addressed Shreyas as his captain.

Hardik’s move also means that he will play for his third IPL franchise. Hardik Pandya started his IPL career with Mumbai Indians in 2015 before joining Gujarat Titans in 2022. He returned to MI in 2024 and led the team for the last two seasons.

The all-rounder has played 162 IPL matches, scoring 2,955 runs and taking 82 wickets. Hardik Pandya has also won five IPL titles, including one with Gujarat Titans in 2022. His experience in the tournament will be an important addition to the Punjab Kings squad.

For Punjab, Hardik’s arrival gives the team another experienced option in the middle order and with the ball. His message has also made his support for Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting clear ahead of the new season. The franchise will hope that he can make a strong contribution in IPL 2027.

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