Mahela Jayawardene Returns As Mumbai Indians Head Coach After Two-Year Global Role

Mumbai, 14th October 2024: Mahela Jayawardene has returned to his role as head coach of Mumbai Indians after serving as the franchise’s Global Head of Cricket for the past two years. During his tenure in the global role, former South African cricketer Mark Boucher was appointed as head coach in 2023. However, the franchise has now opted to bring Jayawardene back to the position he previously held from 2017 to 2022.

While in his global capacity, Jayawardene was tasked with focusing on other teams, including MI (Women’s Premier League), MI NYC (Major League Cricket), and MIE (ILT20). The 47-year-old played a pivotal role in establishing the backroom operations for these teams, with MI securing a trophy in each of the leagues. However, during this period, Mumbai Indians struggled in the IPL, finishing at the bottom of the table twice in the last three seasons.

As the franchise enters a new cycle, the five-time IPL champions are eager to get back on the winning track. MI owner Akash Ambani expressed his excitement over Jayawardene’s return to the helm, emphasizing his leadership and expertise. Ambani also acknowledged Mark Boucher’s contributions over the past two seasons, highlighting his dedication to the team.

Jayawardene is equally enthusiastic about the challenge ahead, emphasizing his desire to build on the vision of the owners and continue to strengthen the legacy of Mumbai Indians. He reflected on his earlier stint with the team, noting that his focus in 2017 was on assembling a talented squad that delivered strong performances. Now, his goal is to further solidify the team’s foundation and success.

Jayawardene’s immediate task will be to finalize player retentions ahead of the October 31 deadline. With a strong roster and the option to retain five players plus one Right to Match (RTM), Mumbai Indians are in a favourable position to retain key players such as Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav.

In addition, Mumbai Indians have been making moves in their coaching staff. As reported, former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey is expected to join the team as the new bowling coach, working alongside Lasith Malinga, who is likely to continue as a bowling mentor.