Ahead of Indian Premier League 2026, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns over Mumbai Indians’ decision to continue with Hardik Pandya as captain instead of Suryakumar Yadav.
“Captaincy usko dena chahiye”
Ashwin made it clear that, in his view, Suryakumar is the obvious choice for leadership.
He pointed out that overlooking him—despite his recent success as India’s T20I captain—is “a bit of a concern.”
Strong case for Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar has built an impressive leadership record, having guided India to consistent success in T20Is, including a World Cup win. His calm approach and tactical awareness have strengthened his case as a natural leader.
Why Mumbai Indians stuck with Hardik
The franchise had earlier handed over captaincy to Hardik after moving on from Rohit Sharma.
Ashwin acknowledged that Hardik’s credentials are solid:
- Led Gujarat Titans to a title in debut season
- Took them to another final the following year
However, his first season with Mumbai was overshadowed by fan backlash and leadership transition drama.
“Challenging situation” for Hardik
Ashwin believes the 2026 season could be tricky for Hardik, as comparisons with Suryakumar intensify.
He noted that managing expectations—both from fans and within the team—will be a key challenge.
What lies ahead
Despite the debate, Ashwin backed Hardik to deliver if he gets full support from the team and management.
Mumbai Indians will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium.
The captaincy debate adds an extra layer of intrigue to Mumbai’s season, with leadership decisions likely to remain under the spotlight.