Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes Mumbai Indians would want Chennai Super Kings youngster Ayush Mhatre included in any deal for Hardik Pandya, as speculation over the all-rounder's IPL future continues ahead of the 2027 season. Ashwin discussed possible trade combinations on his YouTube channel, arguing that Shivam Dube alone would not be enough to persuade Mumbai to part with their captain.
Mhatre emerges as the key name in Ashwin's assessment
Ashwin's central point was that Mumbai would seek a player with long-term value as part of the return for Hardik. In his assessment, Mhatre is the player CSK would find difficult to part with, but also the one Mumbai could insist on receiving. Ashwin said he did not expect the five-time champions to proceed with a deal that included only Dube.
The discussion is an assessment of a possible transaction, not confirmation that the franchises are negotiating an agreed package. No completed Hardik trade was announced in the reports cited for this story. The terms, if discussions advance, would have to satisfy both teams' squad-building priorities.
Ellis and Urvil Patel offered as alternatives
Ashwin also considered what CSK might do if they are unwilling to include Mhatre. One option he outlined was to offer Dube alongside Australian fast bowler Nathan Ellis. Ashwin's reasoning was that Ellis could address a specific requirement for Mumbai by adding another bowler capable of handling the closing overs.
He linked that role to the workload carried by Jasprit Bumrah. Ashwin suggested Ellis could share the death-bowling responsibility and provide Mumbai with another specialist option. He also described Ellis as a possible replacement for Trent Boult in the team's bowling resources.
If the Dube-Ellis combination did not satisfy Mumbai, Ashwin named wicketkeeper-batter Urvil Patel as another possible addition. That package would give Mumbai three players in return for Hardik and would include a keeper-batter option alongside a middle-order batter and a fast bowler. These combinations were presented as possibilities for CSK to consider, not as offers formally made by the franchise.
A larger exchange could involve Deepak Chahar
Ashwin went further by discussing a multi-player deal that could involve more than one player moving in each direction. In the scenario he raised, CSK could offer Dube, Ellis, Urvil and another pacer in exchange for Hardik and Deepak Chahar. Such a structure, in Ashwin's view, could give Mumbai several squad options while bringing CSK an all-rounder and a familiar new-ball bowler.
The suggestion reflects the complexity of trading an established international all-rounder. Hardik offers batting, seam bowling and leadership experience, so Mumbai would need to assess not only the number of players received but also their roles, availability and the balance of the squad after the exchange. CSK, meanwhile, would have to decide how much depth they could afford to surrender for one high-profile addition.
Why Mumbai's return matters
Ashwin's comments focus on the idea that Mumbai should not release a major player unless the return improves their own team. Ellis would address bowling depth, Urvil would add a wicketkeeping option and Mhatre would represent a younger batting asset. The names serve different purposes, which is why Ashwin discussed more than one possible combination.
For CSK, the challenge is to make an offer that Mumbai considers valuable without weakening their own core excessively. Dube, Mhatre, Ellis and Urvil each have distinct roles in the possible packages Ashwin outlined. The final shape of any deal would depend on the franchises' priorities and whether both sides see a clear sporting benefit.
The SportsLine angle
The trade discussion is also a reminder of the value placed on young Indian players in franchise cricket. Mhatre's name has become central to the debate because a potential exchange is not only about replacing Hardik's immediate contribution; it is also about the future composition of Mumbai's squad. A player-for-player deal can affect a franchise across several seasons, particularly when emerging domestic talent is involved.
For now, the Mhatre demand and the alternatives involving Ellis and Urvil remain Ashwin's proposed scenarios. Fans should distinguish those views from an official announcement by CSK or Mumbai Indians. Until the franchises confirm a transaction, Hardik's future and the names involved remain part of the IPL 2027 trade conversation rather than a completed move.
Frequently asked questions
Which CSK player does R Ashwin say Mumbai Indians will want in a Hardik Pandya trade?
Ravichandran Ashwin believes Mumbai Indians would want young CSK batter Ayush Mhatre included in any deal for Hardik Pandya. He said Mumbai would not proceed with a package involving only Shivam Dube, making Mhatre a key name in his assessment of the possible exchange.
What alternative trade package did Ashwin suggest if CSK do not offer Ayush Mhatre?
Ashwin discussed a package involving Shivam Dube and Nathan Ellis as an alternative. If Mumbai Indians were not satisfied with that combination, he suggested CSK could add wicketkeeper-batter Urvil Patel, giving Mumbai another option behind the stumps and in the batting order.
Why would Mumbai Indians be interested in Nathan Ellis?
Ashwin pointed to Ellis's value as a death-overs bowler. He said the Australian could share the workload with Jasprit Bumrah and give Mumbai another specialist option late in an innings, while also serving as a possible replacement for Trent Boult in the bowling group.
Has Hardik Pandya officially been traded from Mumbai Indians to CSK?
No completed trade is confirmed in the reports cited here. The discussion is based on Ashwin's analysis of possible player combinations and the speculation surrounding Hardik Pandya's IPL future. Any move would depend on the franchises agreeing to terms and formally announcing the transaction.
Who else did Ashwin mention in a possible multi-player Hardik Pandya trade?
Ashwin also discussed a broader exchange in which CSK could offer Shivam Dube, Nathan Ellis, Urvil Patel and another fast bowler in return for Hardik Pandya and Deepak Chahar. He presented it as one possible structure that could strengthen both teams, not as an agreed deal.