former south african captain Faf du Plessis by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) And Mumbai Indians (MI) Has shared his views on the possible leaders of. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s YouTube channel, the veteran cricketer identified two potential candidates for each franchise, which include established international players and emerging Indian leaders.
Faf du Plessis’s options for LSG include South African and Australian stars
Lucknow Super Giants may enter IPL 2027 with a new captain as the 2026 season Rishabh Pant They remained at the bottom of the points table. Pant’s Kuldeep Yadav The leadership position of the franchise has changed even further after he returned to Delhi Capitals via trade with.
Now that the post of captaincy is vacant, aiden markram And Mitchell Marsh Have emerged as potential candidates. Both players are already part of the Lucknow squad, making them convenient options to recruit without bringing in an outside player.
Du Plessis mentioned both foreign all-rounders to take responsibility for the team. Markram brings international leadership experience, while Marsh has also captained Australia in international cricket. The decision will be especially important for LSG as they look to recover from their disappointing ninth season campaign and build a strong combination for IPL 2027.
Du Plessis reveals KKR captains
Kolkata Knight Riders are facing leadership questions before the next season. Ajinkya Rahanewho captained the franchise for two seasons, retired from cricket from all formats in July, leaving the position open. Du Plessis Rinku Singh and potentially involved in business hardik pandya were identified as two candidates for the role.
Rinku’s leadership abilities are supported by her performances in domestic cricket. He in 2024 Meerut Mavericks To UPT20 Helped them clinch the title, while the following year they finished as runners-up. He has also taken up leadership responsibilities with Uttar Pradesh in List A cricket, starting with the 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Pandya, meanwhile, could be an option if a trade brings him to Kolkata. However, such a move remains a possibility, not a definite development.
2 experienced players to lead Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians faced another tough IPL campaign in 2026, winning only four out of 14 league matches and finishing ninth in the table. This was the second time in three seasons under Pandya’s captaincy that the five-time champions failed to qualify for the playoffs. Therefore, discussions regarding team leadership may become even more important ahead of IPL 2027.
Du Plessis suggested two familiar names to captain Mumbai: Rohit Sharma And Jasprit Bumrah. Rohit remains a strong candidate due to his excellent record. He led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles between 2013 and 2020, making him one of the most successful captains in the history of the tournament.
Bumrah represents another possibility. Although he has captained India in Test cricket, his experience in leading franchise teams has been limited. It remains to be seen whether Mumbai considers Rohit’s return or hands over the responsibility to Bumrah, as the franchise evaluates its leadership options.
