Mumbai Indians’ latest IPL campaign ended in another letdown, and the conversation has already shifted to what happens next—specifically, who should wear the captain’s armband when the five-time champions prepare for IPL 2027. With the season still fresh in the minds of supporters, one name has quickly separated itself from the rest: Jasprit Bumrah.
What the fans are saying after MI’s IPL 2026 struggle
A fan poll conducted following Mumbai Indians’ underwhelming IPL 2026 campaign suggests Bumrah is the clear frontrunner for the captaincy. More than 44% of voters backed Bumrah to take over leadership from Hardik Pandya, placing him well ahead of the other major contenders.
The timing of the poll matters. MI’s 2026 outing produced only four victories across 14 matches, and the franchise failed to progress beyond the league stage. For an organisation that has historically set high standards in the tournament, the campaign proved to be another forgettable chapter.
- MI won 4 matches from 14 in IPL 2026
- The team was eliminated in the league stage
- They suffered 10 defeats and finished well away from playoff contention
- Supporters overwhelmingly want Bumrah to lead the side
Hardik Pandya’s return and the captaincy pressure
Hardik Pandya’s leadership has come under sharper scrutiny as the franchise looks for answers. Pandya returned to Mumbai Indians in 2024 after two standout seasons with Gujarat Titans, where he captained the team to a title in 2022 and guided them to the final again in 2023.
While his comeback was initially viewed as the start of a new phase after Rohit Sharma’s successful spell, results have not matched expectations.
- In IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians finished at the bottom with 4 wins
- In IPL 2025, MI showed improvement by reaching the playoffs
- MI beat Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator in IPL 2025
- MI then lost to Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 in IPL 2025
Heading into IPL 2026, expectations were high that Mumbai Indians would regain their edge. Instead, the campaign slipped away early. The batting did not show the consistency required at the top level, the bowling struggled to find rhythm, and Pandya himself missed a couple of matches during the season.
By the end of IPL 2026, MI were again forced to search for solutions after an early exit.
Why Bumrah is the preferred choice among the contenders
Against that backdrop, Bumrah has emerged as the favourite to steady the ship. The India pacer has been one of MI’s most important pillars over the last decade. Since his IPL debut for the franchise in 2013, Bumrah has played 158 matches for Mumbai Indians, and he has been influential across all five of their title-winning campaigns.
With 187 wickets, he currently sits joint fifth on the list of all-time IPL wicket-takers, underlining his longevity and impact. Even beyond numbers, he is widely viewed as one of the most dependable bowlers in world cricket.
Captaincy glimpse during IPL 2026
Bumrah also got a taste of leading the team during IPL 2026. He captained Mumbai Indians in a match against Punjab Kings when both Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav were unavailable, and he guided the side to victory in his first appearance as skipper.
That brief stint seems to have reinforced what many supporters already believe—that Bumrah could be the right candidate to take Mumbai through a transition period.
How other names fared in the fan poll
While Bumrah led the vote clearly, the poll also highlighted the differing levels of confidence supporters have in other potential leadership options.
- Rohit Sharma finished second with more than 27% of the votes
- Tilak Varma received over 17% support
- Suryakumar Yadav was the least preferred among the major contenders, with just over 10% of the votes
The discussion around captaincy hasn’t been limited to fans alone, with experts and former players also weighing in. Still, several members of the TOI Sports panel felt Mumbai Indians should back Bumrah with the responsibility rather than seek another completely new face.
At 32, Bumrah is seen as someone who can bring both stability and continuity, while giving the franchise enough time to plan a longer-term leadership transition further down the line.
Whether Mumbai Indians eventually make such a change remains to be seen, but the message from supporters is unmistakable: a large section believes the moment has come for Bumrah to take charge.
