Akash Ambani, 35, bids farewell to Hardik Pandya as Mumbai Indians bring in Arshdeep Singh
Mumbai Indians co-owner Akash Ambani, 35, said he has "great respect" for Hardik Pandya after the club traded its captain to Punjab Kings for pacer Arshdeep Singh ahead of the IPL 2027 auction.
Mumbai Indians co-owner Akash Ambani, 35, said on Wednesday that he has “great respect” for Hardik Pandya, after the club traded its captain to Punjab Kings for fast bowler Arshdeep Singh. The swap was completed ahead of the IPL 2027 auction, ANI reported on 11 November 2026. 1
What happened
Mumbai Indians released Hardik to Punjab Kings, and Punjab sent Arshdeep the other way. Hardik joins Punjab at ₹18 crore, up from ₹16.35 crore, while Arshdeep moves on his existing fee of ₹18 crore, ANI said. 1
Hardik had returned to Mumbai in 2024 as captain, taking over from Rohit Sharma. The five-time champions missed the playoffs in two of the three seasons since, Telangana Today reported, quoting an IPL source who said the decision to trade him came from the captain and coach. Hardik is expected to play under Shreyas Iyer at Punjab. 2
What Akash Ambani said
“Hardik has shared some very special moments with Mumbai Indians,” Ambani said. “We have seen him grow as a cricketer, make his mark on the world stage and then return to lead the team.” He added: “I have great respect for him, both as a cricketer and as a person.” 1
On the new signing, he said: “Arshdeep’s arrival adds an exciting dimension to our bowling attack.” 1
Akash Ambani age and roles
Akash Ambani is 35. He was born on 23 October 1991, the same day as his twin sister Isha, and is Mukesh Ambani‘s elder son. He was 30 when the board of Reliance Jio Infocomm named him chairman on 27 June 2022, and he is also managing director of Jio Platforms. The full timeline is on our Akash Ambani age and biography page.
| Akash Ambani at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Age | 35 (born 23 October 1991) |
| Main role | Chairman, Reliance Jio Infocomm; MD, Jio Platforms |
| Cricket | Involved in running Mumbai Indians |
| Net worth | ₹2,77,034 crore (360 ONE Wealth Creators List 2026) |
| Education | Brown University, economics (2014) |
Key numbers from the trade
- Hardik Pandya’s new fee at Punjab Kings: ₹18 crore, up from ₹16.35 crore (ANI)
- Arshdeep Singh’s fee at Mumbai Indians: ₹18 crore, unchanged (ANI)
- Mumbai Indians titles: five (Telangana Today)
A Wadia link on the other side
Punjab Kings, formerly Kings XI Punjab, is co-owned by Ness Wadia, son of Wadia Group chairman Nusli Wadia, according to Forbes. So the trade moves an India all-rounder from one billionaire family’s franchise to another’s.
What happens next
The IPL auction is due later this month, and Mumbai will build around Arshdeep’s left-arm pace while Punjab plan with Hardik under Iyer. For the money behind the franchise owner, see Akash Ambani’s profile and our story on how the Ambanis overtook the Adanis in October.
Frequently asked questions
What is Akash Ambani's age?
Akash Ambani is 35. He was born on 23 October 1991, the same day as his twin sister Isha Ambani.
What did Akash Ambani say about Hardik Pandya?
He said Hardik shared very special moments with Mumbai Indians and added: “I have great respect for him, both as a cricketer and as a person,” ANI reported on 11 November 2026.
Who did Mumbai Indians get for Hardik Pandya?
Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh from Punjab Kings, on his existing fee of ₹18 crore, ANI reported.
Who owns Punjab Kings?
Ness Wadia, son of Nusli Wadia, is a co-owner of Punjab Kings, according to Forbes.
- 1 ANI, MI co-owner Akash Ambani thanks Hardik for his contribution to team's success; welcomes extra dimension provided by Arshdeep, 11 Nov 2026
- 2 Telangana Today, Hardik Pandya ends second Mumbai Indians stint, joins Punjab Kings, 7 Nov 2026