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Mahela Jayawardene Steps Down as Mumbai Indians Coach

By Drooid · Oct 17, 2026, 10:10 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Mahela Jayawardene Steps Down

Mumbai Indians announced head coach Mahela Jayawardene is stepping down ahead of IPL 2027.
Jayawardene led MI to three IPL titles in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
MI finished ninth in the 2026 IPL, winning only four of 14 matches.
Hardik Pandya’s 2026 stats (206 runs, SR 138.25, four wickets) sparked trade rumours before the November 15 retention deadline.

Summary

Rohit Sharma Return

MI management is weighing Rohit Sharma's return as captain for IPL 2027.
Sources say dressing-room unrest contributed to MI's disappointing 2026 season.
Persistent injuries and player-availability concerns limited MI's squad depth in 2026.
The franchise expects to appoint a new head coach within the next week.
Owner Nita Ambani publicly thanked Jayawardene for his decade-long contribution to MI's culture.

History

Historical Context

On 13 September 2007 the BCCI announced the Indian Premier League, which began on 18 April 2008 with eight franchise teams, including the Mumbai Indians. The league’s inaugural auction raised $723.59 million and the MI franchise later won five titles. After a title-less 2026 season, head coach Mahela Jayawardene left and Rohit Sharma’s captaincy is being reviewed.

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Mahela Jayawardene Steps Down

Mumbai Indians announced head coach Mahela Jayawardene is stepping down ahead of IPL 2027.
Jayawardene led MI to three IPL titles in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
MI finished ninth in the 2026 IPL, winning only four of 14 matches.
Hardik Pandya’s 2026 stats (206 runs, SR 138.25, four wickets) sparked trade rumours before the November 15 retention deadline.

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