Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings’ trade talks initially involved three players: Hardik Pandya moving to PBKS, and Arshdeep Singh and reserve wicketkeeper Vishnu Vinod going the other way to MI.
The structure changed once the money was settled. An IPL statement confirmed that Hardik’s fee has been revised from Rs. 16.35 crore to Rs. 18 crore. Arshdeep, meanwhile, was bought back by PBKS in the Player Auction for Rs. 18 crore.
With the two headline names now valued identically, there was no gap in value for a third player to fill. Besides, this publication understands that with Mumbai Indians management deciding to back Robin Minz, it decided against pursuing Vishnu, who stays with Punjab Kings as a reserve wicketkeeper.
Vishnu’s first taste of IPL cricket came with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2017 edition, followed by stints with Delhi Capitals Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. He was retained by Punjab Kings ahead of the 2026 season.
Published on Nov 11, 2026
