3 players backed by Rohit Sharma during his MI captaincy

Rohit Sharma is not just a great captain but also someone who excels in man management. During his captaincy stints, it was evident that he knew how to bring out the best from each player. The right-handed batter led the Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles in just eight seasons. He also helped India end their 11-year ICC title drought when he led the Men in Blue to glory in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

During his illustrious captaincy career, Rohit not just produced the results but also backed youngsters who have gone on to become pillars, not just of the Mumbai Indians franchise but also of the national team.

Here are 3 players Rohit Sharma backed as MI captain in the IPL:

Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav was already a well-known name in Indian cricket when he joined the Mumbai Indians. He was appointed the vice-captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders before heading over to MI. However, Rohit gave him a spot at the top of the order, and Suryakumar became a different player altogether.

Suryakumar did not just become an IPL legend, but he also made his international debut while playing for the five-time champions. Earlier this month, he became only the third Indian captain to win the T20 World Cup. Suryakumar has amassed over 2600 runs for MI.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya made his IPL debut sporting the Mumbai Indians’ jersey. Since then, Rohit has backed him through ups and downs. The Baroda all-rounder needed some polishing to become the match-winner he is today. Rohit gave him the confidence to hone his skills and become the best version of himself.

Hardik is currently leading the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026, with Rohit playing under him. He has played key roles for MI during their glorious run under Rohit. Hardik recently played a pivotal role in India’s win in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah has stayed with the Mumbai Indians since his debut. When he made his debut in 2013, he was quite raw, sometimes trying too hard to make an impression. Critics questioned his unorthodox action, but Rohit supported him to the hilt.

Rohit gave Bumrah the confidence to become the spearhead that he is, not just for MI but also for the Indian team. In 145 IPL games, Bumrah has picked up 183 wickets at an average of 22.03. He bowls the difficult overs, inside the power play and at the death, but his economy rate is still an impressive 7.25.