A day after Hardik Pandya’s Instagram activity sent the internet spiralling, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin intensified the frenzy with his latest social media post discussing what the Chennai Super Kings should plan for IPL 2027.
Will Hardik Pandya move to CSK next season?
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CSK crashed out of the playoff race after losing their final league-stage match against the Gujarat Titans, marking the third straight season in which the five-time champions failed to progress beyond the league phase.
On Monday, hours after the Mumbai Indians completed a disastrous campaign with a 10th defeat, a 30-run loss against the Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium, Hardik shared an Instagram story that triggered massive speculation online.
The “07:07” timestamp on his phone in the post led many fans to speculate that it hinted at a possible move to CSK, while others believed the pink colour theme pointed towards the Rajasthan Royals instead.
A day later, Ashwin appeared to fuel the chatter further with his own “07:07” reference on X.
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A day later, Ashwin appeared to fuel the chatter further with his own “07:07” reference on X.
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Interestingly, the tweet itself had nothing to do with Hardik initially. A fan had asked Ashwin whether CSK should target Matheesha Pathirana for next season if Kolkata Knight Riders released him after an injury-marred IPL 2026 campaign, during which the Sri Lankan pacer managed just one appearance before suffering another setback.
Ashwin agreed and then expanded on what he felt could strengthen CSK’s squad. Instead of directly naming Hardik, he cryptically referred to “07:07”, suggesting the player would add firepower to the middle order alongside Shivam Dube. He also dragged Ben Stokes into the conversation, saying the England Test captain could bring balance to the side alongside compatriot Jamie Overton.
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The post immediately reignited transfer speculation across social media, with fans attempting to decode whether Ashwin was subtly hinting at Hardik joining CSK ahead of IPL 2027.
As things stand, however, the entire conversation remains purely speculative.
Hardik, meanwhile, endured a disappointing IPL 2026 season both as captain and all-rounder. He scored just 206 runs in 10 matches at an average of 22.89 and strike rate of 138.25, while picking up only four wickets.
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After Mumbai’s defeat against Rajasthan, batting coach Kieron Pollard remained non-committal about Hardik’s future as captain.
“From a leadership perspective on Hardik, yes, it has not gone as well as he would have wanted as an individual,” Pollard said.
“It might not have gone how we would have wanted as a management staff. But one thing you should know is that we have tried everything to give him the best opportunity to lead the franchise and do well.”
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/Hardik Pandya-CSK drama explodes after R Ashwin’s wild ‘07:07’ post; England star dragged into IPL 2027 teaser
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