Kris Srikkanth has suggested that Kolkata Knight Riders should be willing to part with Rinku Singh and Harshit Rana if it means acquiring Hardik Pandya from Mumbai Indians. The former India opener believes the trade would benefit KKR's rebuilding efforts despite the loss of a promising young bowler.
He acknowledged that Harshit Rana is a capable bowler but felt his recent form did not justify keeping him over the opportunity to sign Pandya.
"Rinku Singh is a decent player, nothing extraordinary. Harshit Rana is a good bowler. But if Hardik is willing to join KKR, I would give up both of them," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Why Srikkanth backs the KKR trade for Hardik Pandya
Srikkanth elaborated on why KKR should consider the trade from a squad-building perspective. He noted that while Rana might represent a significant loss to the franchise, his recent performances did not warrant holding onto him at the expense of a marquee signing.
"They also have to rebuild their side. Rinku Singh won't be a great loss for them. Harshit Rana might be a huge loss for them. But Harshit also didn't have a great IPL last year. He was good only the year before that," Srikkanth said.
Srikkanth's assessment of MI's position in any deal
Srikkanth also offered his view on what Mumbai Indians should do if approached with such a proposal. He was sceptical about the terms that might be offered to MI in return, suggesting the franchise should be selective about any incoming players.
"MI shouldn't go for it. Why will they go for Axar Patel and not Prithvi Shaw or someone? There is no scope for that. Also, I wouldn't trade for Head if I were MI, as he doesn't fit with MI," Srikkanth said.
Hardik Pandya is 32 years old and has not performed well since returning to Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2024 season. Mumbai Indians finished ninth out of ten teams in 2026. Both Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have shown interest in acquiring Pandya, making him a subject of speculation in the IPL trade market.