New Delhi: The build-up to the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) season has already sparked discussions about possible leadership changes, with former South African captain Faf du Plessis predicting new captains for three franchises. According to his assessment, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) could enter the next season with different leaders.
Speaking in a video for ESPNcricinfo, du Plessis identified Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh as possible captaincy options for Lucknow. For Kolkata, he suggested Rinku Singh or Hardik Pandya, provided the latter moves to the franchise through a trade. At Mumbai, he named former captain Rohit Sharma and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as potential candidates.
These predictions come at a time when franchises are reviewing their squads and leadership plans ahead of the IPL 2027 retention deadline and mini-auction. Player transfers and uncertainty surrounding some existing captains have added to the speculation.
LSG face leadership question after Rishabh Pant’s departure
Lucknow Super Giants are among the teams expected to consider a captaincy change ahead of IPL 2027. Rishabh Pant, who led the franchise in the 2026 season, has moved back to Delhi Capitals through a player trade involving Kuldeep Yadav.
Pant’s departure leaves Lucknow with an important decision to make as it prepares for the new season. The franchise has yet to win an IPL title and will be keen to build a stronger campaign after recent seasons that did not meet expectations.
Du Plessis believes the team could look within its existing squad for a replacement. He named South African all-rounder Aiden Markram and Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh as two possible choices.
Markram brings considerable international leadership experience. He has captained South Africa in T20 cricket and led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to success in the SA20 competition. His calm approach and experience in different conditions could make him a suitable candidate for the Lucknow role.
Marsh is another option with international captaincy experience. The Australian all-rounder has led his national side in T20 cricket and offers value with both bat and ball. His experience in high-pressure matches could be useful if Lucknow decides to hand him the responsibility.
Both players are already familiar with the franchise environment, which could make either appointment relatively straightforward. However, the final decision will depend on the team’s plans, squad composition and discussions within the management.
Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya emerge as KKR options
Kolkata Knight Riders could also be looking for a new captain before IPL 2027. Ajinkya Rahane, who led the team in the previous season, retired from all forms of cricket in July 2026, leaving the franchise with a leadership vacancy.
Du Plessis identified Rinku Singh as one of the possible candidates. The left-handed batter has become an important part of India’s white-ball setup and has also gained leadership experience in domestic cricket.
Rinku has previously captained Meerut Mavericks in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League, guiding the team to the title in 2024. He also led the side to a runners-up finish the following year. His leadership responsibilities have extended to Uttar Pradesh’s List A team, giving him experience beyond his role as a specialist batter.
The other name suggested by du Plessis is Hardik Pandya. However, this possibility is linked to reports of a potential transfer from Mumbai Indians to Kolkata.
Pandya has considerable IPL captaincy experience, having led Gujarat Titans to the title in their debut season in 2022 and guided them to the final in 2023. He subsequently took charge of Mumbai Indians.
A move to KKR, if it happens, could make him a strong candidate for the captaincy. Nevertheless, the proposed transfer remains speculation and should not be treated as a confirmed deal.
Rohit Sharma or Jasprit Bumrah for Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians could face a major leadership decision after a disappointing 2026 campaign. The five-time champions finished ninth in the 10-team competition, winning only four of their 14 league matches under Hardik Pandya.
It was the second time in three seasons under Pandya that Mumbai failed to reach the playoffs. The team’s performance has consequently renewed discussions about its leadership structure.
Du Plessis suggested two familiar names as possible alternatives: Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah.
Rohit remains one of the most successful captains in IPL history. He led Mumbai Indians to five titles between 2013 and 2020, establishing a strong record during his time in charge. His experience and understanding of the franchise could make him a natural option if the management decides to change captains.
Bumrah offers a different possibility. One of the leading fast bowlers in world cricket, he has also captained India in Test cricket. However, he has comparatively limited experience as a franchise captain.
Appointing Bumrah would represent a significant leadership responsibility for the pace spearhead, while bringing Rohit back would mean returning to a captain who has already delivered multiple titles for the franchise.
The final decision could also depend on Hardik Pandya’s future. Reports of interest from other franchises have added uncertainty to Mumbai’s plans, but no potential transfer should be considered final until officially confirmed.
Du Plessis backs continuity at the other seven franchises
While identifying possible changes at LSG, KKR and MI, du Plessis also indicated that the remaining seven IPL teams should continue with their existing captains.
His suggested leaders for those franchises are:
- Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel
- Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill
- Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer
- Rajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins
The recommendations suggest that du Plessis sees greater value in maintaining leadership continuity at these franchises rather than making unnecessary changes.
Rajat Patidar, in particular, has strengthened his position after leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to successive titles in the previous two seasons. Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, continues to be an important figure for Punjab Kings, while Pat Cummins brings international leadership experience to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
IPL 2027 trade market adds to captaincy speculation
The captaincy discussion is unfolding alongside significant player movement ahead of the next season. Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already completed a four-player trade involving Liam Livingstone, Jack Edwards, Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis.
Livingstone and Edwards have moved to CSK, while Khaleel and Ellis have joined SRH. The deal has increased attention on the transfer market, with other franchises also expected to assess their squad requirements.
Hardik Pandya’s reported future has become one of the major talking points. Punjab Kings have been linked with a possible move for the all-rounder, while KKR, Rajasthan Royals and LSG have also been mentioned in reports surrounding his availability.
The retention deadline and mini-auction will provide greater clarity about the teams’ final combinations. Until then, the captaincy names suggested by du Plessis remain predictions rather than official appointments.
With three franchises potentially considering leadership changes, IPL 2027 could bring a different look to the dugouts. Whether Markram, Marsh, Rinku, Pandya, Rohit or Bumrah eventually take charge will depend on franchise decisions and the final movement of players in the coming weeks.