Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 24: Veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said Mumbai Indians should appoint Suryakumar Yadav as captain, calling it a “no-brainer” and expressing concern over the delay in making him the permanent skipper.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin pointed out that Suryakumar, who currently leads India in T20Is and recently guided the team to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 title, is a natural choice for leadership at the franchise level.
“At this point, giving him captaincy should definitely happen. The fact that it hasn’t yet is a bit concerning,” Ashwin said.
However, Ashwin also defended Hardik Pandya, acknowledging his strong leadership credentials. He noted that Pandya led Gujarat Titans to a title in their debut season and to a runner-up finish the following year.
Ashwin said Pandya’s first season as MI captain in 2024 was challenging, particularly amid the controversy surrounding the leadership transition from Rohit Sharma, who had previously led the team to five IPL titles.
He added that the current situation—where Suryakumar leads India while Pandya captains MI—creates additional pressure and complexity.
Despite this, Ashwin expressed confidence in Pandya’s abilities, stating that he can succeed if given adequate support from teammates and management, and if external pressure is minimised.
Mumbai Indians are set to begin their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29.