IPL 2026: Ravichandran Ashwin Ignites Fresh SKY vs Hardik Storm For MI After Rohit's 2024 Saga

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has opened the Pandora's box for the Mumbai Indians ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026), scheduled to begin on Saturday, March 28, 2026, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Ashwin, an IPL great in his own right, hardly needs his stature in Indian cricket to underline his legacy, believes that India captain Suryakumar Yadav, after what he has done for India in the shortest format of the game, even more so after winning the T20 World Cup 2026 recently, deserves to captain the Mumbai franchise, and that he is not captaining the side can be a bit of a concern.,“Suryakumar Yadav not being the captain of the Mumbai Indians is a no-brainer. Usko captaincy dena hi chahiye (He should definitely be the captain).

And the fact that it isn’t happening, I’m sure, is a bit of a concern,” Ashwin said on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat.,Although he floated the idea for the Mumbai Indians to make Suryakumar Yadav the captain, he did acknowledge Hardik Pandya's ability to lead a side, as he has a proven track record in the IPL. Citing Pandya's success as Gujarat Titans captain, where he helped them win the title in his first season, followed by another stellar campaign where they came close to winning, ending the season as runners-up, Ashwin reckons that when he was traded to Mumbai from Gujarat, everyone expected him to carry on with the same momentum.

However, his first season saw him dealing with the Rohit Sharma saga that may have been more than a distraction for the India all-rounder.,“We should also look at Hardik’s captaincy credentials. Hardik Pandya, as the Gujarat Titans captain, won a title in his first season, and the team was the runner-up in the second. When he came to Mumbai, the expectation was that he would be the captain and continue that trend.

However, his first year was spent just dealing with the Rohit Sharma saga," he highlighted.,Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as the captain of the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024 - a move that didn't go down too well with the fans. Pandya was booed at every venue in that season, and it turned out to be an absolute nightmare for the side, with the team finishing right at the bottom in the points table, having only managed to win 4 out of their 14 games. The following season, IPL 2025, marked a significant turnaround for them, as they won 8 of their 14 matches to finish fourth on the points table and secure a place in the playoffs.

However, they lost against the Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2. ,Bringing to the fore another challenge that awaits Pandya, Ashwin feels that this season, the Mumbai Indians captain might have to contend with a lot of people telling him that Suryakumar Yadav is the incumbent Indian team captain, yet Hardik is the captain of Mumbai, adding that the India all-rounder doesn't lack credentials to be the skipper of the five-time IPL champions, underlining his title-winning campaign for Gujarat Titans.,“Now he has to contend with a lot of people telling him that Suryakumar Yadav is the incumbent Indian team captain, yet Hardik is the captain of Mumbai. It’s a very challenging situation; a lot of things could be going through his mind. But I don’t think Hardik Pandya, the captain, lacks credentials—he does have them.

He did a great job with the captaincy for the Gujarat Titans," Ashwin feels.,“Leaving external issues aside, without any pressure and with the support of the players and management, I still think Hardik can do a fine job. He needs to use this squad that he has in the right way,” he further added.,The last time the Mumbai Indians won the IPL was in 2020, and another failure this season for Pandya as captain might just open the doors for Suryakumar Yadav next season. It was precisely why he replaced Rohit Sharma in 2024.,Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Sports, Cricket and around the world.