Mumbai Indians are set to make a big captaincy change ahead of IPL 2027, with reports saying Rohit Sharma will return as the team's captain.

The five-time champions are preparing for the new season after a disappointing campaign, and the franchise is said to be ready to hand the leadership back to its most successful captain.

The move would come after a major overhaul of the coaching staff, which suggests the franchise is planning a fresh start rather than a small fix.

New coaching team already in place

Mumbai Indians have already changed their coaching department, appointing Kieron Pollard as the new head coach.

Former batter Robin Uthappa has joined as batting coach, Mitchell McClenaghan as bowling coach, T Dilip as fielding coach and Dhawal Kulkarni as development bowling coach.

After such a big coaching change, reports say a captaincy change was the natural next step for the franchise.

Poor season under Hardik forced the rethink

Under Hardik Pandya's captaincy last season, Mumbai Indians lost 10 of their 14 matches and finished ninth on the points table.

That poor run is reported to be the main reason the franchise decided to change its leadership for the new season.

Hardik had arrived from Gujarat Titans in a high-profile trade, but his time as captain did not go as planned, and fans at Wankhede Stadium had also voiced their displeasure.

Rohit first suggested Tilak, then agreed to lead

Before the New Zealand tour, Rohit Sharma is reported to have held several rounds of talks about the captaincy.

During those discussions, Rohit is said to have first suggested young batter Tilak Varma for the role, so that the team could be built for the future.

However, after a special request from the franchise, Rohit has now agreed to take charge of Mumbai Indians once again, according to reports.

Rohit's advice was also sought during the appointment of the new coaches, which shows how central he remains to the franchise's plans.

What happens to Hardik Pandya

What happens next for Hardik Pandya is still unclear, and his future is now the biggest question around the franchise.

There is speculation that he could be traded to another franchise before the season, though nothing has been confirmed.

If no trade deal works out, reports say Hardik has agreed to play as a regular player under Rohit's captaincy.

For now, the franchise has not made an official announcement, so the captaincy change remains based on reports rather than a confirmed statement.