Mahela Jayawardene is no longer a member of the Indian Premier League’s Mumbai Indians. The former Sri Lankan batter led MI to three trophies in 2017, 2019, and 2020 throughout his eight years as head coach across two tenures. He originally assumed control in late 2016. The development coincides with new rumours about the five-time champions’ leadership, with Rohit Sharma surfacing as a potential candidate to take over as captain.
However, the Mumbai Indians have not performed well lately after winning three titles in their first four years under Jayawardene. They have only made it to the playoffs twice in six seasons since their 2020 IPL victory. With his departure, Jayawardene closes another chapter in his lengthy career with the Mumbai Indians, where he has held a number of positions. The team will now try to steer in a different direction, and the prospect of Rohit taking back the captaincy has made its preparations for the upcoming season even more intriguing.
In a statement, Mahela said, “Mumbai Indians has been a very special part of my journey for over a decade now. The players, coaching team, the incredible support of the #OneFamily and above all the fans have made this an experience I will always treasure.”
Meanwhile, Nita Ambani, the owner of MI, said, “Mahela has made a significant contribution to Mumbai Indians over the years. His calm leadership, integrity and deep love for the game have meant so much to us. On behalf of the entire MI family, I want to thank Mahela for his immense contribution and unwavering commitment over the years.”
In order to oversee the franchise’s global expansion project, Jayawardene was appointed global head of performance, relieving him of coaching responsibilities for the 2023 and 2024 editions. In 2025, he resumed his coaching duties. For the second time in their existence, the Mumbai Indians finished last in the previous season under South African Mark Boucher. The last time it happened was in 2022. That concluded Jayawardene’s first season as a coach.
