“It’s an obvious choice” – Former RCB batter picks MI’s captain for IPL 2027, snubs Rohit Sharma 

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Wasim Jaffer believes Suryakumar Yadav should be the obvious choice to lead Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2027. He suggested that the franchise might not consider Rohit Sharma for the role, given that the veteran batter may not have many years left in his playing career.

Since the conclusion of IPL 2026, MI’s current captain, Hardik Pandya, has been linked with a possible move away from the franchise. Speaking on his YouTube channel (Wasim Jaffer Official), the 48-year-old suggested that Pandya might not continue as captain and that Suryakumar should take over the responsibility, given his experience as a World Cup-winning captain. Jaffer said:

“He is a proven player and a proven performer. He has been associated with MI for many years. So, there would be nothing wrong with looking at him as an option. I also feel it would be a huge motivation for him as this IPL will be very important for him. He has reached this stage in his career, and he would be even more motivated. Perhaps the responsibility of captaincy could work well for him. So, in my opinion, it is an obvious choice to go with Surya because he is a World Cup-winning captain. I think it would be a valid decision. I’m sure Rohit Sharma won’t be among their considerations because he isn’t going to be their long-term future, as he won’t be playing for many more years.”

Speaking about Hardik Pandya, Jaffer noted that he has led MI for three years without much success, with the team reaching the playoffs only once during his tenure. He added that, given the franchise’s approach, MI could consider a change in leadership. He said:

“I don’t think Hardik will continue as captain. That’s my feeling because we now have a fairly large sample size, with him having led the team for three seasons. He hasn’t been successful, although the franchise has been successful in the past. Knowing Mumbai Indians, I think they might go in a different direction. It will be interesting to see whom they choose because there are several options within the group.”

Hardik has captained the franchise in 39 matches, winning 15 and losing 24.

“This move was expected” – Wasim Jaffer on MI appointing Kieron Pollard as head coach

On October 24, MI appointed Kieron Pollard as head coach following Mahela Jayawardene’s departure. Reacting to the development, Wasim Jaffer stated that the move was expected, given that the former West Indies captain understands the franchise well and has won several trophies with the team. He said:

“So, to some extent, this move was expected. I think it is a good transition because Pollard was already part of the support staff under Jayawardene, and he understands this group well. He knows how Mumbai Indians want to play their cricket and how they should approach the game. He has won several trophies with Mumbai Indians, so I think appointing Kieron Pollard as head coach is a good decision.”

Pollard previously served as MI’s batting coach from the 2023 to 2026 seasons.

Edited by Dev Sharma