Mahela Jayawardene has resigned as the head coach of the Mumbai Indians, the IPL franchise announced on Saturday. Jayawardene served as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines for the previous two seasons, marking his second tenure in that capacity. He had previously held that position from 2017 to 2022.Jayawardene stated in a MI statement, “Mumbai Indians has been a very special part of my journey for over a decade now.”
“This experience is one that I will always cherish, thanks to the players, coaching team, the #OneFamily’s extraordinary support, and, most importantly, the fans.” We have collaborated to create something that we can all be proud of, surmount obstacles, and share some unforgettable moments. I am deeply grateful to Mrs. Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani for their unwavering support, friendship, and trust throughout the years. I will always hold a special place in my heart for MI and depart with immense pride in the accomplishments we have made together. I extend my best wishes to the team for continued success in the years ahead.
Jayawardene succeeded Mark Boucher as the head coach of MI prior to the 2025 IPL. Jayawardene had previously served as their global director of performance from 2022 to 2024. Jayawardene had also oversaw MI’s three other franchises in that capacity: MI Cape Town in SA20, MI New York in MLC, and MI Emirates in the ILT20.
Jayawardene secured three IPL championships during his initial tenure as head coach. The second attempt was less successful, as MI finished fourth on the league table in 2025 before losing in Qualifier 2, and ninth in 2026.Nita Ambani, the owner of Mumbai Indians, stated, “Mahela has made a substantial contribution to the team over the years.”
She also expressed her gratitude for his calm leadership, integrity, and profound passion for the game. I would like to express my gratitude to Mahela on behalf of the entire MI family for his unwavering commitment and immense contribution over the years. We will always treasure the memories we have shared and the journey we have undertaken together. Mahela will forever be a member of our #OneFamily, and we extend our best wishes for his happiness and success in the future.
MI is currently in the process of recruiting a head coach, as the IPL retention deadline is approaching on November 15. The IPL auction is anticipated to occur in Goa approximately one month later.
MI’s most recent victory in the IPL occurred in 2020, when they became the first team to successfully defend their title.
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Jayawardene was responsible for both trophy victories.
MI’s team management is in a precarious position as a result of Jayawardene’s departure, as captain Hardik Pandya is also under scrutiny following the team’s second-from-bottom finish in IPL 2026. Rumors of a Hardik trade began to circulate in reports and social media shortly after MI concluded with only four wins from 14 games. Hardik’s individual performance was also uninspiring, as he only took four wickets in 10 games and scored 206 runs from 10 innings, with a high score of 40, while striking at 138.25.
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