Five-time IPL champion Mumbai Indians, who were known for dominating the Indian Premier League, last won an IPL trophy in 2020. Their disappointing campaign continued in IPL 2026 as they ended the season in ninth place with four wins from 14 matches. In the middle of all the chaos, reports are suggesting Hardik Pandya could part ways with the franchise.
As per reports, Pandya might leave MI due to extreme mental stress and exhaustion. If Pandya leaves the franchise, the team management will have to look for someone who can bring the champion team back on track. Let’s dive into this photo collection and find out about the four strongest contenders to lead the side.
Players who could replace Hardik Pandya as MI captain
1. Rohit Sharma
Former skipper Rohit Sharma might return to lead the side. Under Rohit’s leadership, the Mumbai Indians won five IPL titles and became one of the most successful franchises in the tournament’s history. Fans were really upset when the captaincy was taken away from him and handed to Hardik Pandya in 2024. Now, with Hardik reportedly set to leave, the MI management could hand the captaincy back to Rohit as a way of rebuilding trust with the fanbase.
2. Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav is also a potential choice to replace Hardik Pandya. Suryakumar Yadav has been struggling with his form, but his captaincy has been appreciated, and he recently led India’s T20I team to the T20 World Cup 2026 triumph. He has also captained the Mumbai Indians in Rohit Sharma’s absence on multiple occasions. He could serve as a strong bridge between the senior players and the younger members of the squad.
3. Jasprit Bumrah
India’s legendary bowler Jasprit Bumrah has also emerged as a leading candidate to take over the Mumbai Indians captaincy. The premier fast bowler has been the backbone of the franchise’s bowling attack for several seasons and has consistently stepped up when the team needed him most. Even during Hardik Pandya’s tenure, he remained MI’s standout performer with the ball, claiming 42 wickets and delivering match-winning spells on a regular basis. Handing him the captaincy could signal a fresh chapter for the franchise.
Read More
4. Tilak Varma
Tilak Varma is also a potential contender to replace Hardik Pandya following his underwhelming captaincy tenure. Varma had an impactful knock with the bat this season as he has scored a total of 359 runs in 14 matches. Varma has captained Hyderabad in domestic cricket and has also led India A sides (including in tri-series and ODIs against Australia A). This gives him hands-on experience at a young age to take up the big responsibility.
Also Read: IPL: Who Could Succeed Rishabh Pant? 5 Leading Candidates For LSG Captaincy
