Mahela Jayawardene has stepped down as head coach of the Mumbai Indians, bringing his decade-long association with the five-time Indian Premier League champions to an end. The franchise announced the decision on Saturday.
Jayawardene has been associated with Mumbai Indians since 2017 and was in charge when the team won three of its five IPL titles. Those championships came during his first stint as head coach, in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
In a statement issued by the franchise, Jayawardene described Mumbai Indians as a special part of his journey and thanked the players, coaching staff, supporters and fans. He also expressed gratitude to Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani for their trust, support and friendship, while saying he was proud of what had been achieved with the team.
Jayawardene moved away from the head coach’s position in 2022 after being appointed Global Head of Performance for the franchise’s teams in other leagues. Mumbai Indians subsequently named Hardik Pandya as captain in place of long-time skipper Rohit Sharma, a decision that drew strong opposition from fans.
Former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher then took over as head coach. Jayawardene returned to the role after Mumbai Indians finished at the bottom of the IPL table in the 2024 season.
His second spell did not produce the success of his initial tenure. Mumbai Indians were eliminated in the second qualifier in the 2025 season and ended the 2026 campaign in ninth place.
Jayawardene, one of international cricket’s most prolific batsmen, played in the first six IPL seasons for Punjab Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Delhi Daredevils. He captained Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Delhi Daredevils during his IPL career.
He is the fifth-highest run-scorer in international cricket, with 25,957 runs from 652 matches. His record includes 54 centuries and 136 half-centuries.
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