Here are the IPL 2027 captains and owners as they stand on 21 October 2026. Seven of the ten teams are expected to keep their IPL 2026 captain, but Lucknow Super Giants have no captain after Rishabh Pant stepped down and moved to Delhi, and the jobs at Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders are open questions.
Off the field, the shake-up is bigger than in any year since the two new teams arrived in 2022. Chennai Super Kings have a new head coach in Zaheer Khan, Delhi Capitals have Sourav Ganguly, and Mumbai Indians are still looking for Mahela Jayawardene’s replacement. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have new owners, and Rajasthan Royals are in the middle of a sale to the Mittal family.
Franchises usually confirm captains in February or March, a few weeks before the season. Until then, we mark each name as confirmed, expected or open, and every change since IPL 2026 is flagged in the main table below. For the auction, schedule and every other storyline of the new season, start at our IPL 2027 hub.
IPL 2027 captains, owners and coaches quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Teams | 10 |
| New head coaches confirmed | 2 (Zaheer Khan at CSK, Sourav Ganguly at DC) |
| Head coach vacancy | Mumbai Indians |
| Ownership changes since 2025 | RCB (sold), RR (sale pending BCCI approval) |
| Captain vacancy | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Defending champions | Royal Challengers Bengaluru, captain Rajat Patidar |
| Retention deadline | 15 November 2026 |
| IPL 2027 auction | 16 December 2026, Goa |
IPL 2027 captains and owners list, with changes since 2026
This table is the quickest way to see who runs each team and what has moved since last season. The last column flags every change in captain, coach or owner.
| Team | Owner | Captain | Head coach | Changed since IPL 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd | Ruturaj Gaikwad (expected) | Zaheer Khan | New coach |
| Delhi Capitals | GMR Group and JSW Sports | Axar Patel or Rishabh Pant (open) | Sourav Ganguly | New coach, captaincy open |
| Gujarat Titans | Torrent Group (67%) and CVC Capital (33%) | Shubman Gill (expected) | Ashish Nehra | No change |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Red Chillies Entertainment and Mehta Group | Ajinkya Rahane (open) | Abhishek Nayar | Captaincy under review (reported) |
| Lucknow Super Giants | RPSG Group | Vacant | Justin Langer | Captain left |
| Mumbai Indians | Reliance Industries | Hardik Pandya (expected) | To be announced | Coach left |
| Punjab Kings | Ness Wadia, Preity Zinta, Mohit Burman and Karan Paul | Shreyas Iyer (expected) | Ricky Ponting | No change |
| Rajasthan Royals | Mittal family and Adar Poonawalla (deal pending) | Riyan Parag (expected) | Kumar Sangakkara | Owner changing |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone | Rajat Patidar (expected) | Andy Flower | New owners |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Sun TV Network (Kalanidhi Maran) | Pat Cummins (expected) | Daniel Vettori | No change |
IPL 2027 coaches list, who changed and why
Three of the ten head coaching jobs have turned over since the 2026 final on 31 May. That is a lot for the final season before the 2028 mega auction, and it tells you which owners were unhappy with 2026.
| Team | IPL 2026 head coach | IPL 2027 head coach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Stephen Fleming | Zaheer Khan | Confirmed 21 September 2026 |
| Delhi Capitals | Hemang Badani | Sourav Ganguly | Confirmed 6 October 2026 |
| Mumbai Indians | Mahela Jayawardene | Not yet named | Vacant since early October |
| Gujarat Titans | Ashish Nehra | Ashish Nehra | No change announced |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Abhishek Nayar | Abhishek Nayar | No change announced |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Justin Langer | Justin Langer | No change announced |
| Punjab Kings | Ricky Ponting | Ricky Ponting | No change announced |
| Rajasthan Royals | Kumar Sangakkara | Kumar Sangakkara | No change announced |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Andy Flower | Andy Flower | No change announced |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Daniel Vettori | Daniel Vettori | No change announced |
Zaheer Khan replaces Stephen Fleming at CSK
This is the end of an era. Fleming joined CSK as a player in 2008, became head coach in 2009 and stayed 18 years, winning five IPL titles and two Champions League T20 trophies. CSK finished eighth in IPL 2026 with 12 points, their second poor season in a row, and the franchise has gone for a full reset. Batting coach Mike Hussey has also left, and Mohit Sharma is reported to be returning as bowling coach.
Zaheer knows the IPL coaching room well. He was LSG’s mentor in 2025 before leaving that role ahead of the 2026 season, and before that he worked for years in Mumbai Indians’ set-up. CSK have never had an Indian head coach before, which makes this appointment a genuine break from the Fleming model.
Sourav Ganguly takes charge of Delhi Capitals
Delhi named Ganguly head coach on 6 October 2026 in place of Hemang Badani, who lasted two seasons. Ganguly is not new to the franchise, having worked in a senior cricket role with Delhi earlier. ESPNcricinfo has also reported that Yuvraj Singh is set for a senior role in the new set-up. Delhi finished sixth in IPL 2026 with 14 points, and with Pant back from Lucknow, Ganguly arrives at a club that clearly wants to win now.
Mumbai Indians are still looking
Jayawardene’s second spell at MI ended by mutual agreement in early October, after MI finished ninth with only eight points. As of 21 October, MI have not named a replacement. Business Standard listed Mike Hussey, Mark Boucher, Aaron Finch, Adrian Birrell and current bowling coach Lasith Malinga as possible names, but none has been confirmed as interviewed or offered the job. We will update this page as soon as MI announce.
Team by team, IPL 2027 owners, captains and coaches
Chennai Super Kings
CSK are owned by Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited, the company that took over the franchise from India Cements and is linked to N Srinivasan’s family. Ruturaj Gaikwad led them in 2026, and with Sanju Samson now in the squad after last year’s trade, some fans expect a captaincy debate. We have seen no report that CSK plan to change, so Gaikwad stays as expected captain. The big change is in the dugout, where Zaheer Khan takes over. More on the squad is on our Chennai Super Kings team page.
Delhi Capitals
Delhi are co-owned by the GMR Group and JSW Sports, who split the franchise 50-50 in 2018. Axar Patel captained them in 2025 and 2026. Now Pant is back, and he led Delhi for several seasons before his 2025 move to Lucknow. Delhi have not said who will lead, so we list the job as open. Our Delhi Capitals team page has the full squad.
Gujarat Titans
The Torrent Group bought 67% of Gujarat Titans from CVC Capital Partners in March 2025 after BCCI approval, with CVC keeping the remaining 33%. The old version of this page still listed CVC as the owner, which is no longer accurate. Shubman Gill led GT to the IPL 2026 final, where they lost to RCB by five wickets, and Ashish Nehra stays as head coach. GT are the most stable team in this list.
Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR belong to Knight Riders Sports, owned by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment and the Mehta Group of Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta. Ajinkya Rahane captained in 2025 and 2026, but KKR finished seventh in 2026, and PTI reported earlier this year that the franchise was thinking about a new captain. Abhishek Nayar, appointed in October 2025 after Chandrakant Pandit left, is still head coach. Check our KKR squad page for the latest players.
Lucknow Super Giants
LSG are owned by Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG Group. This is the only team without a captain right now. Pant told LSG before the 2026 final that he would step down, and he was traded to Delhi on 23 June 2026. LSG finished last in 2026 with eight points. Overseas names such as Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran have been floated as options in the media, but nothing has been announced. Justin Langer remains head coach.
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians are owned by Reliance Industries through Indiawin Sports, with Nita and Mukesh Ambani at the head. Hardik Pandya has been the subject of trade interest from several teams, but other reports say MI want to keep him as captain. Until something changes, he is the expected captain. When Hardik missed games in 2026, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah stood in. The coach’s job is vacant. Our Mumbai Indians squad page is updated after every move.
Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings are owned by KPH Dream Cricket, the company behind Ness Wadia, Preity Zinta, Mohit Burman and Karan Paul. Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting have been together since 2025 and took Punjab to the 2025 final, then fifth place in 2026. Both are expected to stay. More on our Punjab Kings team page.
Rajasthan Royals
This is the biggest ownership story of the year. Manoj Badale’s Emerging Media bought the Royals for US$67 million in 2008. In May 2026, the Lakshmi Mittal family agreed to buy 75% of the franchise for about US$1.65 billion, with Adar Poonawalla taking 18% and existing investors, including Badale, keeping about 7%. The deal also covers the Paarl Royals and Barbados Royals. The Competition Commission of India cleared it on 17 September 2026, but BCCI approval was still pending as of late September. An earlier deal with a consortium led by Kal Somani collapsed.
On the field, Riyan Parag captained RR in 2026 after Samson’s move to CSK and took them to fourth place and Qualifier 2. Kumar Sangakkara is head coach. See our Rajasthan Royals team page.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The champions changed hands this year. Diageo, through United Spirits, sold RCB to a consortium of the Aditya Birla Group, the Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone for US$1.78 billion, about ₹16,660 crore, in an all-cash deal. The CCI cleared the purchase of 100% of Royal Challengers Sports on 30 June 2026. Rajat Patidar has captained RCB to two titles in two seasons, and Andy Flower stays as head coach. Note that the team has been called Royal Challengers Bengaluru, not Bangalore, since 2024. Our RCB team page has the squad.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH are owned by Kalanidhi Maran’s Sun TV Network, with Kavya Maran running the franchise. Pat Cummins missed the first seven matches of 2026, when Ishan Kishan led the side, and returned as captain for the rest. SRH finished third in the league and lost the Eliminator to RR. Daniel Vettori remains head coach. Visit our Sunrisers Hyderabad squad page for the full list.
Which teams could change captain for IPL 2027
Captaincy is decided late, and the trade window, which stays open until about a week before the 16 December auction, can still change things. These are the four situations to watch.
Lucknow Super Giants, a vacancy
LSG must appoint someone. Last time, LSG bought Pant at the November 2024 auction and named him captain a few weeks later, so the Goa auction could decide this one too. If LSG buy a senior overseas batter in Goa, he becomes a strong candidate.
Delhi Capitals, Axar or Pant
Axar has done nothing to lose the job, but Delhi did not bring Pant home at ₹15 crore just to bat. A new coach in Ganguly also means a fresh look at leadership. This is the closest call in the league.
Kolkata Knight Riders, Rahane’s future
Rahane is 38, and KKR have now had two seasons outside the top four under him. If KKR move him on or trade for a new leader, the captaincy changes with it.
Mumbai Indians, the Hardik question
Everything at MI depends on whether Hardik stays. If he is traded, MI have three former or stand-in captains in Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah. With a new head coach still to come, MI could reshape their leadership completely.
IPL team owners and what the franchises are now worth
Two sales in one year have reset the value of an IPL team. The figures below are the reported sale prices, not official valuations.
| Team | Deal | Value | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Diageo to Aditya Birla-led group, 100% | US$1.78 billion (about ₹16,660 crore) | 2026 | CCI cleared 30 June 2026 |
| Rajasthan Royals | Mittal family 75%, Poonawalla 18% | US$1.65 billion (includes two overseas teams) | 2026 | CCI cleared, BCCI approval pending |
| Gujarat Titans | CVC to Torrent Group, 67% | About ₹5,035 crore (reported) | 2025 | Completed |
| Rajasthan Royals | Original purchase by Emerging Media | US$67 million | 2008 | History |
The jump from US$67 million in 2008 to US$1.65 billion for the Royals tells you how far the IPL has come. RCB’s first title in 2025 also came just before Diageo put the team up for sale, which can only have helped the price.
Most successful IPL captains in history
Captains matter in this league. The table below shows every captain who has lifted the IPL trophy more than once.
| Captain | Titles | Team | Seasons won |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 5 | CSK | 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023 |
| Rohit Sharma | 5 | MI | 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 2 | KKR | 2012, 2014 |
| Rajat Patidar | 2 | RCB | 2025, 2026 |
Patidar’s record stands out. He won both of his first two seasons in charge, something even Dhoni and Rohit did not manage. Shane Warne (2008), Adam Gilchrist (2009), David Warner (2016), Hardik Pandya (2022) and Shreyas Iyer (2024) have one title each. Shreyas then took Punjab to the 2025 final, so two of the IPL 2027 captains already know how to win the trophy.
Many of these captains also rank among the league’s top scorers. Our list of the top run getters in IPL history shows how many of today’s captains are near the top, and our page on the highest individual scores in IPL matches covers the biggest innings, several of them by captains.
iSportsLeague take
This is the site’s view, not a confirmed fact.
We think at least three teams will start IPL 2027 with a different captain from the one who started IPL 2026. LSG is certain. Our pick for the second is Delhi, where we expect Pant to get the job back under Ganguly. Pant’s best seasons came as Delhi captain, and a team that has just paid to bring him home will want to build around him. Axar remains the vice-captain in that scenario and keeps a central role.
The third change, we believe, will come at KKR. Two seasons outside the playoffs with a 38-year-old captain is usually where a franchise looks for someone younger, and KKR’s interest in Hardik earlier this year suggests they are already thinking that way.
On coaches, Zaheer at CSK is the appointment most likely to shape the next few years, because CSK are planning for the 2028 mega auction, not just 2027. MI’s choice is the one to watch in the short term. With Hardik’s future unsettled and the squad finishing ninth, the new coach may help decide who leads Mumbai in March.
FAQ on IPL 2027 captains, owners and coaches
Who are the IPL 2027 captains?
No franchise has formally named its IPL 2027 captain yet. Based on IPL 2026, the expected captains are Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK), Shubman Gill (GT), Hardik Pandya (MI), Shreyas Iyer (PBKS), Riyan Parag (RR), Rajat Patidar (RCB) and Pat Cummins (SRH). LSG have no captain, and the jobs at DC and KKR are open.
Who is the new CSK coach for IPL 2027?
Zaheer Khan was named Chennai Super Kings head coach on 21 September 2026. He replaces Stephen Fleming, who coached CSK from 2009 and won five IPL titles.
Who is the Delhi Capitals coach for IPL 2027?
Sourav Ganguly was appointed Delhi Capitals head coach on 6 October 2026, replacing Hemang Badani. Yuvraj Singh is reported to be joining in a senior role.
Who will coach Mumbai Indians in IPL 2027?
MI have not named a head coach yet. Mahela Jayawardene left by mutual agreement in early October 2026, and names such as Mike Hussey, Mark Boucher and Lasith Malinga have been mentioned in reports.
Who owns RCB now?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are now owned by a consortium of the Aditya Birla Group, the Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone. They bought the team from Diageo for US$1.78 billion, and the CCI cleared the deal on 30 June 2026.
Who owns Rajasthan Royals?
The Lakshmi Mittal family has agreed to buy 75% of Rajasthan Royals, with Adar Poonawalla taking 18% and existing investors such as Manoj Badale keeping about 7%. The CCI has cleared the deal, but BCCI approval was still pending as of late September 2026.
Who is the richest IPL team owner?
Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries, owner of Mumbai Indians, is the richest individual behind any IPL team. The Mittal family, new majority owners of Rajasthan Royals, and the Aditya Birla Group at RCB are also among India’s wealthiest business families.
Which IPL captain has won the most titles?
MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma have won five titles each as captain, Dhoni with CSK and Rohit with MI. Rajat Patidar is next among active captains with two, both with RCB.
You can also follow the race on our IPL points table once the season starts, and our IPL ticket booking guide will be updated when IPL 2027 sales open.
Last updated 21 October 2026
