Hours after Ravichandran Ashwin triggered speculation with his IPL trade hints, reports now suggest that the Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants are in discussions over a potential exchange involving Shardul Thakur and Arjun Tendulkar.
While it remains unclear whether these two players will be part of a single trade or separate deals, there is also the possibility of a straightforward all-cash transaction instead of an official IPL trade. Cricbuzz insiders have confirmed that “the exchange swap is a possibility,” with official announcements expected after the player retention list release on November 15.
Arjun Tendulkar and Shardul Thakur’s potential roles
Arjun Tendulkar has been a fringe member of the Mumbai Indians squad over the last few seasons. Picked at his base price of INR 20 lakh during the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, the left-handed all-rounder did not play a single game in the recently concluded season. Across his IPL career, Arjun has featured in 5 matches, scoring 13 runs and taking 3 wickets.
Shardul Thakur, on the other hand, could provide Mumbai with a reliable backup for Deepak Chahar, who has struggled with recurring injuries. Thakur’s inclusion would strengthen the Indian pace options and offer depth in case Chahar is ruled out for any match.
While discussions are reportedly ongoing, both franchises have remained tight-lipped. The BCCI mandates that any player trade or exchange be officially confirmed before announcements are made, keeping fans in suspense for now.
