Ravichandran Ashwin backs Suryakumar Yadav as MI captain, calls it a “no-brainer” while raising concerns over Hardik Pandya’s leadership before IPL 2026
New Delhi: Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised questions about the captaincy of Mumbai Indians ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, he said that Suryakumar Yadav should be made captain instead of Hardik Pandya, calling it a “no-brainer” and adding that it is “a bit of a concern” that the change has not happened yet.
Table of contents
Why Ashwin Backs SKY
First of all, Ashwin explained why he thinks Suryakumar is the right choice. He said that Suryakumar has done very well in international cricket. He is currently India’s T20 captain and has also led the team to a big tournament (T20 World Cup) win recently.
Because of this, Ashwin feels that Suryakumar deserves to lead Mumbai Indians too. He also said that Suryakumar understands the team well and has been part of the franchise for many years.
In simple words, Ashwin believes that Suryakumar has the experience, calm nature, and respect needed to be a good captain.
Praise for Hardik Pandya
However, Ashwin did not criticize Hardik Pandya completely. Instead, he clearly said that Hardik is also a good captain.
He reminded everyone that Hardik led Gujarat Titans to win the IPL in 2022. After that, he also took the team to the final in 2023. These achievements show that Hardik has strong captaincy skills.
So, Ashwin made it clear that Hardik does not lack ability. He has already proved himself as a successful leader.
Hardik’s Tough Start
Next, Ashwin talked about Hardik’s time as Mumbai Indians captain. Hardik became captain in 2024, replacing Rohit Sharma. This decision surprised many fans and created a lot of discussion.
Because of this change, Hardik faced a lot of pressure from the start. Ashwin said that his first season was affected by the “Rohit Sharma saga.” This means there was a lot of outside noise and pressure.
As a result, the team did not perform consistently in that season.
Team Improved Later
After that difficult start, things slowly improved. In the next season, Mumbai Indians performed better and even reached the playoffs.
This showed that Hardik was able to handle the situation and lead the team in a better way.
Pressure Still On Hardik
Even now, Ashwin believes that Hardik is under pressure. One main reason is that Suryakumar Yadav is currently India’s T20 captain.
This creates a tricky situation. A player who leads the national team is playing under another captain in the IPL team. According to Ashwin, this can be mentally challenging for Hardik.
He said that many people are talking about this, and it could affect Hardik’s thinking and decisions.
Ashwin Supports Hardik Too
Even though Ashwin suggested a change in captaincy, he still supported Hardik. He said that if Hardik gets full support from the team and management, he can do a “fine job” as captain.
Ashwin also said that Hardik needs to use the strong Mumbai Indians squad in the right way to get good results.
MI Ready for Opener
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians are ready to start their IPL 2026 journey. They will play their first match against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29.
Also Read: Can IPL 2026 Change History? These IPL Teams Have Never Won the Trophy
The team has many top players, so they are still strong contenders for the title. However, this captaincy debate has added extra attention before the season starts.
In conclusion, Ravichandran Ashwin has shared a strong but balanced opinion. On one hand, he said that Suryakumar Yadav should be the captain and called it a “no-brainer.” On the other hand, he also said that Hardik Pandya is a capable leader who can still do well.
Now, as IPL 2026 begins, everyone will watch Mumbai Indians closely, not just for their matches, but also for how this captaincy situation develops.
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