The Mumbai Indians (MI) captaincy debate has gathered momentum ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 auction, with former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin backing Rohit Sharma to return to the leadership role.
Rohit, who guided MI to five IPL titles, was replaced by Hardik Pandya before the 2024 season. However, the franchise’s inconsistent results in recent campaigns have prompted renewed discussion about its leadership plans.
Ashwin believes bringing Rohit back as captain could help Mumbai restore stability and improve the team’s overall environment. Nevertheless, the franchise has not officially announced any change, meaning the possibility of Rohit’s return remains a talking point rather than a confirmed development.
IPL 2027: Ravichandran Ashwin backs Rohit Sharma for MI captaincy
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin explained why he believes Rohit is the right choice to lead Mumbai Indians in the upcoming season.
The former India spinner also highlighted the potential partnership between Rohit and Kieron Pollard, who has been elevated to head coach for IPL 2027.
“It’s the last year of the mega auction cycle. They’ve really struggled the last two years without assembling the ideal team combination. They never played as a unit. Bumrah has had some injury issues. With all this, Rohit as captain, with Pollard becoming head coach, will be the right combination for the last season before the mega auction.”
He added: “It’s astounding MI didn’t qualify last season with the squad they have. MI should announce Rohit Sharma as the captain. Because he’s the one who can be central and like a big brother who protects a family. So it’ll be good for MI if he becomes captain.”
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Why Rohit can be a strong captaincy option for MI?
Rohit’s record as MI captain remains one of the strongest arguments in favour of his possible return. He led the franchise to five IPL championships in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020, establishing himself as one of the competition’s most successful leaders.
Beyond the trophies, Rohit developed a reputation for managing experienced international stars alongside young domestic players. His calm approach and understanding of match situations helped Mumbai build a successful team culture during their dominant years.
Ashwin also praised Rohit’s ability to treat players fairly and maintain strong relationships within a squad.
“Rohit has an unbelievable human touch. It’s very hard to be like that. If there are 20 players in your team, he’ll treat 1 the same way as he treats 20. Whatever importance and affection he gives to X, he’ll give to Z, A, L and M. He’s a superb human and an incredible leader who’s tactically astute,” said Ashwin.
Such qualities could be valuable for Mumbai as they look to improve their performances and rebuild consistency.
