Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin believes Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard could form an effective captain-coach duo for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2027, which will be the final season of the current cycle before the mega auction ahead of the 2028 edition.
Speaking exclusively on his YouTube channel, Ashwin suggested that the Rohit and Pollard pairing could help MI regain their form after their struggles under Hardik Pandya in the past few seasons.
“It’s the last year of the mega auction cycle. They’ve really struggled the last two years without assembling the ideal team combination. They never played as a unit. Bumrah has had some injury issues. With all this, Rohit as captain, with Pollard becoming head coach, will be the right combination for the last season before the mega auction,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin also believes Rohit can be a big-brother figure in the team, offering guidance and support while fostering a family-like environment. He added that Rohit treats every squad member equally, showing the same affection and giving everyone equal importance.
“It’s astounding MI didn’t qualify last season with the squad they have. MI should announce Rohit Sharma as the captain. Because he’s the one who can be central and like a big brother who protects a family. So it’ll be good for MI if he becomes captain,” he added.
“Rohit has an unbelievable human touch. It’s very hard to be like that. If there are 20 players in your team, he’ll treat 1 the same way as he treats 20. Whatever importance and affection he gives to X, he’ll give to Z, A, L and M. He’s a superb human and an incredible leader who’s tactically astute,” Ashwin concluded.
The IPL 2027 player retention deadline is November 15, 2026, as announced for the upcoming mini-auction, which is scheduled for December 16, 2026.
