“Hardik will stay with MI if Rohit is the captain” - Former CSK star’s massive claim ahead of IPL 2027
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Subramaniam Badrinath believes Hardik Pandya is likely to stay at MI if Rohit Sharma takes charge again in IPL 2027.
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Subramaniam Badrinath believes Hardik Pandya is likely to stay at MI if Rohit Sharma takes charge again in IPL 2027. Hardik returned from Gujarat Titans in an all-cash trade before IPL 2024 and took the captaincy from Rohit, who had led the franchise since 2013.
Mumbai won four of 14 matches and finished last in 2024, reached Qualifier 2 in 2025, then finished ninth again in 2026 with the same four-win return. Meanwhile, Rohit led MI to five titles and won 87 of his 158 matches as an IPL captain, with Hardik a key contributor in the final four titles.
Talking about how Rohit becoming MI captain could dictate Hardik's future, Badrinath said on his YouTube channel, Cric it with Badri:
"I feel Hardik will stay with MI if Rohit is the captain. Rohit might talk to Hardik and convince him to stay for a year and win a title together. If Rohit talks to him, Hardik will accept. Even from Hardik's own point of view, he can think that with the mega auction next year, he could enter the auction. There, he could go for 30 or even 40 crores."
Hardik Pandya’s Mumbai Indians future is the loudest thread running through this IPL trade window, and Badrinath believes the captaincy call will decide it.
Badrinath says Kieron Pollard's appointment as head coach could also help keep Hardik at MI
Subramaniam Badrinath believes newly-appointed MI head coach Kieron Pollard could also help keep Hardik Pandya with the franchise. Pollard was promoted from batting coach to head coach on October 24, replacing Mahela Jayawardene. He was part of all five of Rohit’s title-winning sides, and Badrinath sees that shared history working on Hardik too.
"Hardik and Kieron Pollard have an excellent equation. They adore each other. So Pollard also could talk to Hardik and try to convince him to stay for one year and promise him an excellent environment in MI. Rohit Sharma's captaincy has a different level of command. So with that and Pollard being the head coach, Hardik's respect for them could help him stay in MI," said Badrinath (via the aforementioned source).
Mumbai, like all the other franchises, must finalize their retention list by November 17, with the mini-auction in Goa on December 16.
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