Ahead of the auction for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 season, Hardik Pandya has reportedly moved to Punjab Kings through a trade deal. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh has joined Mumbai Indians, leaving MI in search of a new captain.
IPL 2027: 4 Teams Searching for New Captains Ahead of the Upcoming Season
Four IPL franchises are currently facing questions over their captaincy ahead of the 2027 season. Mumbai Indians have joined the list following Hardik Pandya's reported move to Punjab Kings, as per a report by Cricbuzz.
With Pandya's departure, Mumbai Indians will need to appoint a new captain. Apart from MI, three other franchises are also facing uncertainty over their leadership.
Key Captaincy Updates Ahead of IPL 2027
- Mumbai Indians: Need a new captain following Hardik Pandya's reported trade to Punjab Kings.
- Kolkata Knight Riders: Are searching for a new captain following Ajinkya Rahane's retirement.
- Lucknow Super Giants: Need a new leader after Rishabh Pant's reported return to Delhi Capitals through a trade.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Could consider a captaincy change if Pat Cummins is unavailable for the season.
While the captaincy situations of six teams appear largely settled, a few franchises could still consider changes. Punjab Kings are another team to watch following Hardik Pandya's arrival. The big question is whether Shreyas Iyer will continue as captain and whether Pandya could take up the vice-captaincy role.
There are also discussions surrounding Delhi Capitals. Axar Patel led the team last season, but following Rishabh Pant's return through a trade, the franchise could reconsider its leadership options.
IPL 2027: Captaincy Situation of All 10 Teams
1. Chennai Super Kings – Ruturaj Gaikwad
- MS Dhoni stepped down as CSK captain, and Ravindra Jadeja was initially appointed as his replacement.
- Following a disappointing period, Dhoni returned to captaincy before the responsibility was handed over to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
- Gaikwad is expected to continue leading Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2027.
2. Delhi Capitals – Axar Patel / Rishabh Pant
- Axar Patel remains part of Delhi Capitals and is one of the team's leadership options.
- However, reports suggest that the franchise could consider a change in captaincy.
- With Rishabh Pant reportedly returning to Delhi through a trade, the team's leadership situation will be worth watching.
3. Gujarat Titans – Shubman Gill
- Shubman Gill is expected to continue as the captain of Gujarat Titans.
- He also leads the Indian national team in Test and ODI cricket.
- There is currently little indication of a captaincy change at Gujarat Titans.
4. Punjab Kings – Shreyas Iyer / Hardik Pandya
- Shreyas Iyer is currently leading Punjab Kings.
- Hardik Pandya's reported arrival through a trade has raised questions about the team's leadership combination.
- The big question is whether Iyer will continue as captain and whether Pandya could become the vice-captain.
5. Rajasthan Royals – Riyan Parag
- Rajasthan Royals appointed Riyan Parag as their full-time captain last season.
- He is expected to continue in the leadership role for IPL 2027.
- At present, the possibility of a captaincy change appears low.
6. Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Rajat Patidar
- Rajat Patidar led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden IPL title after an 18-year wait.
- His successful leadership has strengthened his position as the team's captain.
- RCB are unlikely to make a captaincy change ahead of IPL 2027.
7. Sunrisers Hyderabad – Pat Cummins / Ishan Kishan
- Pat Cummins is currently the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- However, uncertainty surrounding his availability could create a captaincy situation for the franchise.
- If Cummins is unavailable, Ishan Kishan could be considered for the captaincy after leading the side in a few matches last season.
8. Mumbai Indians – Tilak Varma / Rohit Sharma
- Hardik Pandya's reported departure has left Mumbai Indians searching for a new captain.
- Tilak Varma is considered one of the leading contenders for the role.
- There is also speculation that Rohit Sharma could return as Mumbai Indians captain.
- The franchise will need to make an important leadership decision before IPL 2027.
9. Kolkata Knight Riders – Rinku Singh
- Kolkata Knight Riders are also facing questions over their captaincy following Ajinkya Rahane's reported retirement.
- Rinku Singh could emerge as a potential candidate to lead the franchise.
- KKR will need to identify a new leader ahead of the upcoming season.
10. Lucknow Super Giants – Aiden Markram
- Rishabh Pant's reported return to Delhi through a trade has left Lucknow Super Giants looking for a new captain.
- Aiden Markram is currently considered the strongest contender for the leadership role.
- LSG could appoint a new captain before the start of IPL 2027.
