India, June 24 -- Over a month ago, former England captain Michael Vaughan had hinted at the possibility. And while Rajasthan Royals initially emerged as a frontrunner to secure a trade deal for Hardik Pandya after IPL 2026, the 2008 champions have now seemingly fallen behind in the race, with Kolkata Knight Riders reportedly stepping up their pursuit of the India all-rounder.

Speculation around Hardik's future at Mumbai Indians has been building since the end of IPL 2026, when the five-time champions finished ninth in the standings. It marked the second time since Hardik's return as captain that Mumbai failed to qualify for the playoffs, despite a third-place finish in 2025.

The rumours gained further traction following Hardik's social...