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- Mumbai Indians Captaincy Race | Hardik Pandya Future; Bumrah, Tilak Varma
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Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma have emerged as potential candidates for Mumbai Indians’ captaincy amid the uncertainty around Hardik Pandya. Pandya has been heavily rumoured to be leaving the Mumbai Indians after a disastrous IPL 2026 campaign.
Mumbai Indians, only one of the two teams to have won the IPL title five times, have failed to make it to the final since 2020, the year they last clinched the silverware. In IPL 2026, MI, captained by Hardik, won just four matches out of 14, finishing in ninth spot.
Bumrah, Tilak in two-way race to become next MI captain
According to a report by the Times of India, Bumrah and Tilak are favourites to take up captaincy of the Mumbai Indians. The fact that Tilak is also the Team India vice-captain in T20Is aids his cause for captaincy of the Mumbai Indians.
Additionally, the publication reported that Rohit Sharma
Additionally, the publication reported that Rohit Sharma is heavily involved in talks for naming the Mumbai Indians’ captaincy, although he is unwilling to reclaim the role.
Tilak made his debut for the Mumbai Indians in 2022 and over the years, has made himself an integral part of the franchise. He has played 68 matches for the franchise, scoring 1858 runs with 10 fifties and one century.
Hardik Pandya might be retained as player
Amid all trade speculations that have linked Pandya to several franchises, including Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, there might even be a possibility that the all-rounder might not be traded at all.
Don’t be surprised if he is not traded
“Don’t be surprised if he is not traded at all. Discussions have also happened with the player along these lines. For a trade to happen, multiple things need to fall into place. So it’s not straightforward,” the report quoted a
Interestingly, the report also states that Pandya might be retained as a player. In such a scenario, how the dressing room atmosphere pans out after Pandya’s reported wish to part ways with the franchise. A PTI report from earlier this year had stated that the star cricketer was ‘mentally stressed’ and ‘done with Mumbai Indians’.
Mumbai Indians are also not too eager to let go of someone with the experience of Suryakumar Yadav. The T20 World Cup-winning captain was far from his best in 2026, scoring just 270 runs with two half-centuries.
Yes, he didn’t have a good season last
“Yes, he didn’t have a good season last year, but what about the ones before that? MI will not discard a player based on one season and that’s not how they operate. They take pride in the ‘One Family’ tag and swear by it,” the
Mahela Jayawardene likely to continue as MI coach
Mahela Jayawardene with Rohit Sharma (Credits: AFP)
Mahela Jayawardene is likely to remain Mumbai Indians’ head coach. The Sri Lankan cricket legend took up the role in 2025 after Mark Boucher’s departure. The abovementioned TOIreport states that Mahela had penned a three-year contract and might be in charge in 2027 as well.
Source: www.bhaskarenglish.in
