Former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes Hardik Pandya may not continue as the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 season.
His comments come amid reports and speculation about a possible trade involving the star all-rounder ahead of the new season. Jaffer feels Mumbai Indians have had enough time to judge Hardik’s leadership after three seasons and could now look for a new captain. While Rohit Sharma’s possible return to the leadership role has also been discussed, Jaffer has backed Suryakumar Yadav as Hardik’s successor. He believes Suryakumar’s experience with the franchise and his success as India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain make him a strong option.
Who Did Wasim Jaffer Pick As Mumbai Indians’ Next Captain?
Jaffer has named Suryakumar Yadav as his preferred choice to lead Mumbai Indians if the franchise decides to move on from Hardik Pandya.
Suryakumar has been associated with Mumbai for several years and has also led the Indian team in T20 cricket. Jaffer believes the responsibility of captaining MI could motivate the batter to perform even better in the IPL 2027 season.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Jaffer said Suryakumar was an obvious choice because of his performances and experience as a captain.
‘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,’ Jaffer said.
He added that leading Mumbai Indians could provide extra motivation for Suryakumar at this stage of his career.
Why Does Wasim Jaffer Believe Hardik Pandya Could Lose The Captaincy?
Jaffer believes Mumbai Indians could consider changing their captain after evaluating Hardik’s performance over three seasons in the role.
According to the former India opener, the franchise has had enough time to assess his leadership and could decide to take a different approach for the next season.
‘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,’ Jaffer said.
He also pointed out that Mumbai Indians have enjoyed success in the past but have struggled under Hardik’s leadership. Jaffer believes the franchise could look at other options within the squad before making a final decision.
However, Mumbai Indians have not confirmed any change in captaincy, and Hardik’s future with the franchise remains subject to official decisions.
Why Is Suryakumar Yadav A Strong Option To Replace Hardik Pandya?
Jaffer believes Suryakumar’s experience with Mumbai Indians and his success as India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain make him a suitable candidate for the role.
The batter has been part of the Mumbai setup for several years and understands the franchise’s environment. His experience of leading India in T20 cricket could also help him handle the responsibility of captaining an IPL team.
Jaffer feels the captaincy could motivate Suryakumar to perform at an even higher level in the upcoming season.
He also believes Mumbai could benefit from appointing a player who already has a strong connection with the franchise rather than looking outside the current squad.
Why Does Wasim Jaffer Rule Out Rohit Sharma As Mumbai Indians’ Next Captain?
Rohit Sharma has also been linked with a possible return to the Mumbai Indians captaincy amid speculation over Hardik’s future.
However, Jaffer does not believe Rohit will be the franchise’s preferred option. He feels Mumbai will want to plan for the long term rather than return to a former captain who may not have many seasons left in his career.
‘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,’ Jaffer said.
Rohit led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles during his time as captain. However, Jaffer’s view is that Suryakumar could be a better option if the franchise decides to appoint a new leader for IPL 2027.
Will Mumbai Indians Change Their Captain Before IPL 2027?
Mumbai Indians could face an important decision ahead of the IPL 2027 season if they consider making a change in leadership. Jaffer believes the franchise has several options within its squad and could choose a different direction after Hardik’s three seasons as captain.
Suryakumar is Jaffer’s preferred candidate, while Rohit’s future role remains a subject of discussion. Speculation about a possible Hardik trade has added to the uncertainty surrounding Mumbai’s plans.
For now, Jaffer’s comments represent his opinion rather than a confirmed franchise decision. Mumbai Indians are yet to officially announce any change in captaincy for IPL 2027.