Mumbai Indians captain list is one of it’s kind, considering the success the team has had over the years.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has had the Mumbai Indians rise to fame for many years. They might have had a slow start to their journey in the tournament, however, in recent years they have matched and at a particular point outdone others.
Since 2013, they have been in a constant struggle with Chennai Super Kings, who are also termed as their arch rivals in IPL. Mumbai won the IPL five times in 16 seasons. This achievement puts them at the top. Their winning record is eye-catching, as they’ve won five out of the six final games they’ve played.
None of this could have been possible without their captains. The mumbai indians captain list features the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, who was their first captain and top-top player. Later It was under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy that the team saw some great momentum shift and all 5 of their IPL titles.
Mumbai Indians Captain 2024
The biggest enemy of Mumbai Indians is nothing but their own ambition of being the better than the best time and again and repeat. The MI fans’ overwhelming expectations about men-in-blue and performance owe a lot to the skipper of the squad. Since 2008, Mumbai have successfully clinched the title five times in the history of the tournament. Unfortunately, for the last three years in a row, they couldn’t repeat the feat.
As the IPL tournament has already begun and each team has played the first four or five matches by now; the performance of MI is a bit worrisome. Notwithstanding, they still have lots of matches left to be played but unless MI retains their consistency and holds their nerves, the IPL 2024 won’t be an easy tournament for them.
With Hardik Pandya at helm in 2024, Mumbai Indians now have six captains donning the skipper’s hat in the last 16 seasons since 2008. But Rohit Sharma is the most successful with five IPL titles in his kitty!
Mumbai Indians Captain List
The MI captain list from 2008 to 2023 consists some of the biggest names in the history of the game. They all have had an impact on the way the team has shaped over the years. That is why they all are the biggest names in the game. But only few captains have had real success when it comes to winning the trophies. So, without further a do, let’s take a look at the Mumbai Indians captain list.
Hardik Pandya (2024-)
The talented all-rounder Hardik Pandya joined the long and illustrating list of Mumbai Indians captains in 2024. He lead the side in what was a mix bag of season for MI. Under his captaincy, they had no
He is currently leading the side from the front, amassing 108 runs from the four matches he participated in. His captaincy record for MI currently stands at one victory out of four league matches, but he’ll certainly bounce back sooner than later.
You shouldn’t overlook his performance for Mumbai during 2015-2021, while being the integral part of the team. He did whatever he could for the side, from astonishing catches at the deep to bowling at the death and defending low total or going out in the middle and hitting those towering sixes… You say Hardik and his record will speak!
Rohit Sharma (2013 – 2023)
Widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of this generation, Rohit Sharma’s rise to fame is nothing short of a dream come true. The incumbent captain of India leading across the formats of the game, albeit his captaincy for Mumbai Indians came to a halt in 2024.
He led the side to five title victories in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, & 2020. It was his painstaking effort and guidance from the front that saw MI becoming IPL champion for the first time in 2013—nearly six years after the inception of the tournament in 2008.
However, in sports, past records just whisper, while present records (stats) speak louder! Unfortunately, Rohit’s performance as a captain has dwindled since 2021 and a change of guard was impending before the team.
Rohit Sharma record as Mumbai Indians captain
Rohit Sharma has been phenomenal at helm for Mumbai Indians winning 5 titles with Mumbai Indians.
Kieron Pollard (2014-2021):
The West Indian all-rounder is one of the most coveted player to have represented the Mumbai Indians side. Despite that he was never really bestowed with the responsibility to act as Captain of Mumbai Indians. Still he had to step into the role in 9 matches at IPL tournaments, winning five and losing four of them.
He has always been a crucial part of the team. Be it batting, bowling or fielding, Pollard has always been upfront with his crucial performances when it matters most. However, he mostly captained the team during Rohit Sharma’s absence. Pollard took retirement from IPL in 2022, but was immediately appointed as the batting coach of the side.
Dwayne Bravo (2010):
Dwayne Bravo, who is a cricketer from the West Indies, played for Mumbai Indians in the first three seasons of the Indian Premier League(IPL) from 2008 to 2010. Later, he joined Chennai Super Kings in 2011, despite being aware of the rivalry between the two teams. In the same year, Dwayne Bravo led Mumbai Indians in a single game when Sachin Tendulkar wasn’t available and made history as he was the first West Indian to do so in the IPL.
Harbhajan Singh (2008 – 2012)
Harbhajan Singh stepped in as the Mumbai Indians’ captain for the first time in IPL 2008 when the then MI captain and icon Sachin Tendulkar was absent due to injury.
Unfortunately, his tenure as MI Captain was laden with controversies and anger management issues. His unprovoked physical altercation with a pace bowler (S Sreesanth) following a match against Kings XI Punjab, led to his suspension.
After the slapgate scandal, Harbhajan Singh was harshly criticized by media and fans across the country. Though he got an opportunity to lead MI for a few matches more in the next few seasons, but he couldn’t do anything big in those matches.
Ricky Ponting (2013-2013)
In 2013, Ricky Ponting, was declared the captains of Mumbai Indians. Despite his not-so-good outings with the bat, the Aussie great was first among the key MI players who suggested the name of Rohit Sharma to lead the side.
After not performing well with the bat, Ponting chose to remove himself from the playing team and suggested that Rohit Sharma be made the next captain. This decision turned things around for the team as they won their first IPL trophy that season. Later in 2015, Ricky Ponting joined the franchise again, this time as the head coach.
Rohit’s new role as a captain immediately fructified, with Rohit Sharma lifting the IPL trophy in 2013 and 2015, respectively. Since 2015, Ricky Ponting has been serving as head coach of various IPL team franchises. He was the head coach of MI in IPL 2015 edition.
Sachin Tendulkar (2008 – 2011)
Sachin Tendulkar who is a famous cricketer has led the Mumbai Indians from 2008 to 2011. The god of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, was a force to reckon with during his playing years. However, his performance as a captain both for MI and Indian national team has always been under the scanner. Especially after MI’s historic blunder against Dhoni-led CSK at Wankhede in 2010 IPL grand finale, when MI couldn’t lift the trophy despite reaching into the grand finale for the first time.
Though Sachin Tendulkar led from the front and even won the IPL orange cap for his astounding performance with the bat, still his dream of winning trophy for MI could be fulfilled only in 2013 when Rohit Sharma translated his dream into reality beating Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs at the famous Eden Gardens of Kolkata. Though MS Dhoni (63*) remained unbeaten till the end, CSK couldn’t repeat the history of 2011 Wankhede final in Kolkata.
Impact of Mumbai Indians’ Captaincy change in IPL 2024
While there is no doubt that the change of guard at MI captaincy level was completely the decision of the franchise owners. Neither Rohit Sharma expressed his desire to relinquish his captaincy, nor it affected his performance. However, ever since Pandya was made the new skipper of the squad, fan wars have erupted on social media between Rohit Sharma fans and Hardik Pandya fans!
Having lost the first three matches in a row, Pandya-led MI’s morale is down. But their outstanding win over Delhi Capitals by 29 runs at the last match was a saviour. It not just acted as a morale booster, but also given the much-needed ammo to MI incumbent captain Hardik Pandya to prove his critics wrong! However, in cricket, performance speaks louder than emotions and even words. So, only Hardik’s true test of captaincy will be how his team picks its momentum and reaches the top of IPL 2024-point table. Will they be able to finish things off in style? May be… May be not! Only the time has an answer to it.
FAQs
Which Mumbai Indians captain has won most IPL trophies?
Rohit Gurunath Sharma has won the most IPL trophies as captain of Mumbai Indians. He has led the team to victory five times, in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Sharma is also the most successful captain in the history of the IPL, having led Mumbai Indians to the finals a total of six times. He is also the only captain to have won the IPL trophy five times.
Has Sachin Tendulkar won any IPL titles with Mumbai Indians?
Yes, Sachin Tendulkar has won one IPL title with Mumbai Indians. He won the title in the year 2013, when Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings in the final.
Penned by: AHC