In an attempt to win their first IPL trophy, Punjab Kings have taken a big gamble by adding Hardik Pandya to the team before IPL 2027. For this, the franchise did not refrain from spending an additional amount of Rs 1 crore 65 lakh. Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia made it clear in an interview to Cricbuzz that Hardik's inclusion is not just a one-season decision but part of a long-term plan. According to Wadia, the franchise's aim is to win the title and Hardik can play an important role in taking the team to that point. However, retaining expensive players like Hardik and captain Shreyas Iyer in the big auction before IPL 2028 could become a challenge for Punjab.

Ness Wadia described Hardik as a world-class player and said his experience and understanding of the game is important for the team. Hardik has won the titles of many major competitions of IPL and International Cricket Council and is counted among the leading all-rounders in the world. Wadia believes that he, along with head coach Ricky Ponting, will inject new energy into the team and motivate the players to become champions. With Hardik's presence, Punjab is expected to benefit from his experience in pressure-packed matches along with batting and bowling. The combination of Shreyas Iyer's leadership and Hardik's title successes will be an important part of the franchise's plans.

With this deal, Punjab Kings also had to take the difficult decision of departure of Arshdeep Singh. Wadia admitted that both the franchises are happy with the swap, which took about a month, but saying goodbye to Arshdeep was not easy. He said that Arshdeep had been a part of Punjab for the last eight years and the franchise has seen him grow from a young player to one of India's leading bowlers. Expressing pride in his achievements, Wadia expressed hope for greater success in the future. Now Punjab's eyes will be on the pair of Hardik and Shreyas, from whom the franchise is expected to end its wait for its first IPL title.