Mahela Jayawardene has stepped down as head coach of the Mumbai Indians following a mutual agreement with the five-time Indian Premier League champions, concluding a decade-long association with the franchise ahead of the 2027 season.
The departure brings an end to Jayawardene’s second stint at the helm of the franchise, which he first coached from 2017 to 2022 before returning prior to the 2025 campaign. Under his leadership during his initial tenure, the team secured three IPL titles in 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Mumbai Indians Confirm Mutual Separation After Ninth-Place Finish
The decision follows a difficult 2026 campaign in which the team finished ninth on the points table, winning just four of their 14 matches. The season was complicated by injuries, player availability concerns, and reported unrest within the dressing room, marking a sharp decline from 2025 when the franchise reached the playoffs.
Mumbai Indians Bid a Heartfelt Farewell to Mahela Jayawardene Mumbai, 17th October 2026: Mumbai Indians, today, announced that Mahela Jayawardene will be stepping down as Head Coach, bringing to a close a decade-long association with the #OneFamily.Mahela has been much more… pic.twitter.com/xUpinh0lRP
In an official statement released on Saturday, the franchise announced the transition, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the parting.
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.
Nita Ambani, Mumbai Indians owner
Jayawardene also reflected on his extensive tenure with the organization, expressing appreciation for the management, players, and supporters.
I leave with immense pride in what we have achieved together and will always carry a special place in my heart for MI. I wish the team every success in the years ahead.
Mahela Jayawardene
Global Operations Leadership and Franchise Legacy
Between his two coaching stints, Jayawardene served as the franchise’s Global Head of Performance from 2022 to 2024. In that capacity, he oversaw coaching, scouting, and strategic planning across the organization’s international teams.
During this period, Mumbai Indians Women, MI New York and MI Emirates each secured titles.
Upcoming Retention Deadline and Head Coach Search
The franchise must now appoint a new head coach before the mid-November player retention deadline for the 2027 season. The player auction is scheduled to take place in mid-December in Goa.
Reports indicate that the franchise has already begun exploring potential successors and is expected to conduct interviews in the coming week. Meanwhile, speculation surrounding the team’s leadership has grown, with discussions emerging over potential changes to the team’s captaincy structure ahead of the next campaign.
During his initial six-year term guiding the team, Jayawardene established a culture centered around discipline, collaboration, and a team-first ethos. The 49-year-old previously led Sri Lanka to the final of the 2007 ODI World Cup.
Following his return in October 2024 on a two-plus-one contract, Jayawardene took the squad to Qualifier 2 in the 2025 tournament before the challenging 2026 campaign resulted in a ninth-place finish with eight points and a net run rate of -0.584. The franchise management met on a Friday evening to finalize the separation agreement.
Support staff from the previous season included batting coach Kieron Pollard alongside assistant Arunkumar, bowling coaches Lasith Malinga and Paras Mhambrey, fielding coach Carl Hopkinson, icon and mentor Sachin Tendulkar, and Ben Langley heading the sports science and medical department. It remains unconfirmed whether these support staff members will retain their positions under the incoming head coach.
Among potential replacements, candidates such as Adrian Birrell and Aaron Finch have been mentioned in connection with various franchise opportunities, while Rahul Dravid has been ruled out of contention for the upcoming season to focus on his family. Speculation has also focused on the captaincy, with the top management reportedly leaning toward restoring Rohit Sharma—who led the team to titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020—to the leadership role ahead of the 2027 tournament.