Five-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians have been busy with trade deals before the IPL 2027 auction on 15th November 2026. The side will look to pick the right players for the upcoming season to win the sixth title.

Hardik Pandya’s exit has created a huge void in terms of the captaincy. The franchise, though, is not in a hurry to select a successor and will be carefully evaluating all the candidates. MI released a statement which read, “As Mumbai Indians look ahead to the upcoming season, the franchise will take a considered approach to evaluating its captaincy options. An announcement regarding the team’s captaincy will be made at the appropriate time.”

It was reported that Rohit Sharma is the front runner to lead the franchise. The veteran batter will turn 40 in the 20th season of the competition. He already led the side for a decade, winning five IPL trophies along with a Champions League title. 

Suryakumar Yadav, who has an exemplary record as India’s T20I captain with an 82% win ratio, is another option. With Yadav at the helm, India never lost a bilateral T2I series and successfully defended their T20 World Cup title earlier this year. 

Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma are the other candidates. However, it is unlikely the franchise will want to burden Bumrah with captaincy, considering 2027 is a World Cup year. Varma, on the other hand, will have to wait before getting the baton on a long-term basis. 

Akash Ambani welcomes Arshdeep Singh

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who joined one of the most successful franchises, was welcomed by MI owner Akash Ambani. “Arshdeep’s arrival adds an exciting dimension to our bowling attack. We are always looking to build a team with the right balance of experience, skill and hunger to compete, and Arshdeep brings all of these qualities. We welcome him along with the MI Paltan as he takes the field in Blue and Gold.”

The statement from the Ambani scion also thanked Hardik for his services: “Hardik has shared some very special moments with Mumbai Indians. We have seen him grow as a cricketer, make his mark on the world stage and then return to lead the team. His contribution, his energy and the competitive spirit he brings to the field have been valuable to Mumbai Indians. I have great respect for him, both as a cricketer and as a person, and wish him nothing but the very best for everything that lies ahead.”