Veteran Mumbai Indians (MI) batter and former five-time IPL-winning skipper Rohit Sharma is likely to be handed the captaincy of the franchise for the upcoming IPL 2027 season. MI have already revamped their coaching staff, with Kieron Pollard taking over as head coach from Mahela Jayawardene.
Robin Uthappa has joined the MI coaching staff as batting coach, Mitchell McClenaghan will be the bowling coach, and T. Dilip has been named the fielding coach, while Dhawal Kulkarni becomes the new development bowling coach.
Hardik Pandya and MI are already parting ways, and as per a new Indian Express report, the MI management wants Rohit Sharma to take up the captaincy once again. Notably, he was removed as MI skipper before IPL 2024, when MI traded in Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans.
As per an Indian Express report, midway through the last IPL in 2026, with the franchise struggling, Mumbai wanted Rohit to take over captaincy from Hardik Pandya. As reported earlier, the franchise had already decided to move on from Pandya as captain, but who would replace him remained unclear.
Under Pandya, MI lost 10 of 14 games, finished ninth, and stretched their title drought to six years. With Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah being long-time parts of the setup, installing a new face was an option. Even Tilak Varma, regarded as strong leadership material, was an option if the franchise wanted to build for the future.
Instead, the franchise has turned to Rohit, who has captained them to five IPL titles—the joint-highest alongside MS Dhoni.
“Rohit initially had suggested Tilak Varma’s name, but the franchise has requested him to take over captaincy, which he has now agreed to. There were a series of talks that had happened before he flew to New Zealand, and Rohit’s suggestions were sought during the appointment of new coaches as well,” a source told The Indian Express.
With Rohit poised to become captain, attention turns to what lies ahead for Hardik Pandya at the franchise. The all-rounder has been linked with other franchises in a trade deal since last season. If Pandya's trade falls through, it is understood that the player has agreed to play under Rohit's captaincy.
