India batting star Rohit Sharma could return as the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 season. Rohit is one of the most successful captains in IPL history, having led the franchise to five titles.

Mumbai Indians have won five IPL trophies under Rohit’s leadership, the joint-most by any franchise in the tournament’s history. However, the team moved on from him as captain ahead of the 2024 season and handed the responsibility to Hardik Pandya.

According to a report by Sports Tak, the Mumbai-based franchise is considering bringing Rohit back as captain for the 2027 season.

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Mumbai Indians Considering Rohit Sharma’s Return As Captain

The report further stated that Rohit’s name has reportedly emerged as a leading option for the captaincy as Mumbai Indians look ahead to the next IPL season.

Tilak Varma has also been discussed as a possible captaincy candidate. However, according to the Sports Tak report, MI’s top management is likely to favour Rohit’s return rather than continue with Hardik Pandya or consider other options, including Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak.

Rohit’s experience and successful record as captain could work in his favour as the franchise considers its leadership options for IPL 2027.

Report Rejects Speculations

However, a report by NDTV, citing Mumbai Indians sources, rejected all the speculations around Rohit Sharma's return to captaincy. The report further stated that the five-time IPL winner has enough captaincy options without Rohit Sharma, and no internal discussions regarding the captaincy change have taken place so far. 

Why Did Mumbai Indians Appoint Hardik Pandya As Captain?

Mumbai Indians appointed Hardik Pandya as their captain on December 15, 2023, ahead of the IPL 2024 season. Hardik returned to MI through an all-cash trade from Gujarat Titans, the franchise he had previously led to the IPL title in 2022 and the final in 2023. Mumbai Indians then handed him the captaincy, replacing Rohit.

The decision attracted considerable attention, given Rohit’s record of leading Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles. Hardik’s appointment also marked the beginning of a new leadership phase for the franchise.

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Mumbai Indians’ Performance Under Hardik Pandya

Mumbai Indians have experienced mixed results since Hardik took over as captain. Their performances across the 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons have included a disappointing finish, a playoff appearance and another difficult campaign.

In IPL 2024, MI finished at the bottom of the points table in 10th place. The team showed improvement in 2025, reaching Qualifier 2 before losing to Punjab Kings. However, Mumbai Indians struggled again in IPL 2026, finishing ninth in the standings.