NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians created a unique piece of IPL history on Thursday when Jasprit Bumrah walked out for the toss against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala as captain. With regular skipper Hardik Pandya sidelined by a back spasm and stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav unavailable for personal reasons, Bumrah led MI for the first time in his IPL career — and in doing so, made the franchise the first side in tournament history to be captained by three Indian players in the same season.
MI Join Rare Captaincy List — But Make History
Only five teams have had three captains in a single IPL season, but Mumbai’s 2026 campaign stands apart. Previous instances included MI in 2008 with Harbhajan Singh, Shaun Pollock and Sachin Tendulkar, as well as teams like Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings. But this is the first time all three captains in one IPL season for a team have been Indians — Hardik, Suryakumar and Bumrah. The stat reflects the unusual turbulence in Mumbai’s campaign, where injuries and absences have forced multiple leadership changes despite the core squad remaining largely intact.
Teams Led by Three Captains in an IPL Season
- MI in 2008 (Harbhajan Singh, Shaun Pollock, Sachin Tendulkar)
- PWI in 2013 (Angelo Matthews, Ross Taylor, Aaron Finch)
- SRH in 2021 (David Warner, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey)
- PBKS in 2024 (Shikhar Dhawan, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma)
- MI in 2026 (Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah)
Bumrah’s Long Wait Ends
Bumrah’s captaincy debut also came after a remarkable wait. The pacer played 156 IPL matches before leading a side for the first time, making him the second-most experienced player to debut as captain in the league. Only Ravindra Jadeja waited longer, taking charge after 200 IPL appearances. Bumrah now moves ahead of names like Manish Pandey, Axar Patel and Kieron Pollard on that list. At the toss, Bumrah joked: “I didn’t think that I would be a Test captain before becoming MI captain.” The line summed up the moment. In a season where little has gone right for MI, Bumrah’s debut added one unexpected chapter to IPL history — even as the five-time champions fight to salvage pride from a difficult campaign.
Most Matches in IPL Before Leading a Side
- 200 - Ravindra Jadeja
- 156 - Jasprit Bumrah
- 153 - Manish Pandey
- 148 - Axar Patel
- 137 - Kieron Pollard
- 126 - Suryakumar Yadav
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