Rohit Sharma Hardik Pandya Suryakumar Yadav (Source: AFP)
In a significant development, it has been reported that Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya, along with his deputy Suryakumar Yadav, are not travelling with the IPL franchise to Raipur for their next fixture against the defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 10.
It has been learnt that Hardik and Suryakumar were not seen with the MI squad at the Mumbai airport. It is worth noting that the usual MI captain was also absent from their playing XI against Lucknow Super Giants a couple of days ago.
Later, the franchise confirmed Pandya had sat out of the match due to a back spasm. Meanwhile, the stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav and his wife are expecting a baby soon, so he will be spending time with her right now, which is why he is unlikely to play the match against RCB in Raipur.
Thus, with both the designated captains likely to be unavailable for the RCB vs MI match, the biggest question that arises is who will take on the leadership role?
Will Rohit Sharma captain Mumbai Indians?
Former Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is one of the most successful captains in IPL history, leading Mumbai Indians to five titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020) during his tenure from 2013 to 2023.
He captained MI in 158 matches, winning 87 of them, making him one of the most successful leaders in the tournament.
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However, in 2024, the MI think tank replaced him with Hardik Pandya as captain to transition to younger leadership and address Rohit’s declining batting form.
Now, in Hardik’s absence, will Rohit Sharma return as MI captain? That answer is a big NO.
It is worth noting that Rohit missed multiple IPL games after sustaining a hamstring injury during the MI Vs RCB clash. The ‘Hitman’ returned to action against LSG only to be used as an impact player.
Hence, in all likelihood, the MI management won’t risk aggravating his injury by asking him to lead the squad, especially with the playoffs fast approaching and the pressure mounting.
Below, let’s explore three possible options the Indians’ management would look toward.
Potential captaincy options for Mumbai Indians apart from Rohit Sharma
1. Tilak Varma
A young Tilak Varma was picked by the Mumbai Indians in the 2022 IPL mega auction for ₹1.7 crore. Known for his maturity and ability to finish games, he has been a consistent scorer for the franchise.
Tilak’s rise reached a pinnacle in the 2025 Asia Cup, where he emerged as the Player of the Match in the final against arch-rivals Pakistan, with a match-winning 69* off 53 balls, followed by playing a pivatol role in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph.
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A team, that is already looking at transition to younger leadership options can consider Tilak Varma a captaincy contender for the upcoming match.
2. Jasprit Bumrah
Indian pace ace Jasprit Bumrah has been a mainstay of MI since 2013, evolving from a raw talent into the undisputed leader of their pace attack and a five-time IPL champion (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020).
The world is well aware of Bumrah’s ability to deliver in nerve-racking situations, controlling the course of the game. On top of that, Bumrah also believes that bowlers are the “smart ones” as they are “not hiding behind a bat”. Thus, bowlers are perfect for leadership roles.
Bumrah, who has already captained the Indian national team in a Test and a couple of T20Is, could also be a potential leadership prospect amid Surya and Hardik’s unavailability.
3. Ryan Rickelton
Hailing from South Africa, Ryan Rickelton, a stylish left-handed wicketkeeper-batter, is widely regarded as one of the most explosive opening batters in world cricket.
Making his IPL debut with the Indians in 2025, Rickelton had nothing short of a spectacular season, forcing the team to retain him for the subsequent edition.
Though Rickelton lacks leadership experience at the top level, he has emerged as a potential leader, especially as the team navigates a challenging rebuilding phase in which they have experimented heavily with their lineup.
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