Nehal Wadhera moves to Himachal Pradesh for 2026-27 domestic season

Nehal Wadhera has switched his domestic representation to Himachal Pradesh ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season, marking a notable career move for the young Punjab Kings left-handed batter. The change comes as he aims to secure regular playing time in India's premier first-class competition after several seasons with Punjab.

Wadhera rose to prominence with his aggressive middle-order approach in T20 cricket. Playing for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, the Ludhiana-born batter delivered consistent performances, accumulating 369 runs across 16 matches at a strike rate of 145.84 with two fifties. His all-format versatility has made him an asset across formats, and his track record includes a maiden double century in first-class cricket. In January 2023, during his debut first-class season, Wadhera struck 214 runs against Madhya Pradesh to earn Player of the Match honours. His ability to construct lengthy innings in longer formats complements his explosive T20 game.

Punjab Kings had acquired Wadhera's services for INR 4.2 crore during the 2025 IPL mega-auction following a competitive bidding war involving Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. He began his IPL journey with Mumbai Indians in 2023, where he scored 241 runs in 10 innings, recording two fifties in his debut season. Limited opportunities at Mumbai in 2024 prompted the shift to Punjab, where he found greater consistency throughout IPL 2025.

Wadhera is not the only player making changes for the upcoming season. Prashant Chopra, who previously featured for Uttarakhand, has also joined Himachal Pradesh, suggesting the state is actively building squad depth. The move reflects broader domestic cricket restructuring ahead of the expanded 2026-27 calendar. The Duleep Trophy opens the season on August 23, 2026, with the Ranji Trophy commencing on October 11 in a two-phase split format running until November 5, then resuming January 17 through the knockout rounds. Wadhera's transfer to Himachal Pradesh positions him to compete in the new domestic cycle across formats beginning later this summer.