3 Players Who Could Become Mumbai Indians’ Captain Next Season

Mumbai Indians, the joint-most successful franchise in the IPL, is facing uncertainty, as captain Hardik Pandya is expected to be removed soon. Compounding their troubles, the team had a disastrous 2026 season, managing only 4 victories and finishing ninth.

It is also being reported that Pandya might also part ways with the franchise after a turbulent three-season tenure as MI’s captain. Despite having a roster full of stars, including Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, and others, MI had a terrible season. The franchise is now expected to undergo a major structural overhaul, likely involving the replacement of the captain.

Mumbai Indians could be set for a major leadership change after a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign. Reports suggest Hardik Pandya may lose the MI captaincy following the team's 9th-place finish in the points table. 👀💙 #HardikPandya #MumbaiIndians #IPL2026 #CricketGanit pic.twitter.com/DFuE40Sm0b

— Cricket Ganit (@cricketganit) May 29, 2026

Captaincy comes with immense pressure and expectations, and the management will need to make a crucial decision ahead of IPL 2027. Former captain Rohit Sharma, who secured five IPL titles, is expected to be instrumental in choosing the skipper. The MI owners are said to have taken a cautious approach, after the backlash that followed their controversial 2023 decision to replace Sharma with Pandya.

Hardik Pandya To Leave Mumbai Indians, Rohit Sharma's 'Blessings' Crucial for Next Captain: Sources#IPL2026 #MIhttps://t.co/mhIP7rlBYB

— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) May 29, 2026

Since sources have confirmed that Rohit Sharma will not return as captain, the search has narrowed down to just three players. The final decision will be made by the 38-year-old head coach, Mahela Jayawardene, and team owner Akash Ambani.

Jasprit Bumrah

One of the world’s finest bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah might be an easy pick, with the 32-year-old having already captained India in Tests and T20Is. Having spent over a decade with the franchise, Bumrah commands respect from both senior players and young domestic talent and is, in fact, the tactical heartbeat of Mumbai. He even led the side against PBKS this season, and the match ended in a six-wicket win.

However, there remains a massive hurdle between Bumrah and MI’s captaincy, which is workload management. As India’s all-format premier bowler, the team management would have to carefully navigate resting him for a few games. Moreover, he also endured a lean patch in IPL 2026, having only picked up 4 wickets in 13 matches at a woeful average of 102.50, which is unlike his usual self. 

Suryakumar Yadav

India’s 2026 T20 World Cup-winning captain, Suryakumar Yadav’s tactical acumen makes him the perfect candidate to replace the outgoing Hardik Pandya. Yadav has also led MI as a stand-in skipper whenever the regular captain was unavailable to play. Not only does he have a grasp of the team’s culture, but the 35-year-old is also a captain who is in sync with the modern, aggressive nature of T20 cricket. 

However, with age not on his side and rumors that he might be removed as India’s T20 captain, there is some uncertainty. Moreover, the veteran batter has also not been in the best of form, having only scored 270 runs in IPL 2026, at an average of just 20.77 and a strike-rate of 147.54, with two 50+ scores, which is a contrast from his 2025 campaign, when he won the MVP award.

Tilak Varma

Should MI decide to invest in a younger captain, the answer is Tilak Varma. The dashing left-hander has been one of the most promising batters in the shortest format, and has been playing for the Mumbai Indians for half a decade now. He was also a part of India’s 2026 T20 WC winning team, and he reached his pinnacle during the 2025 Asia Cup, where he scored a match-winning 69 in the final against Pakistan. 

Varma captains Hyderabad in domestic cricket and has also led the India ‘A’ side on multiple occasions. Having established himself in the MI batting order, the 23-year-old is well accustomed to the environment within the dressing room as well. While he had a subdued 2026 IPL campaign, only scoring 359 runs in 14 matches, he did steer his side to wins with knocks against GT and PBKS, single-handedly.

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