With the IPL 2025 Mega Auction nearing rapidly, franchises are making strategic alterations to their coaching staff.
On October 13, 2024, 5-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) announced the reappointment of Mahela Jayawardene as their head coach.
This move comes after the team’s dismal performance in the 2024 edition under the leadership of captain-coach Hardik Pandya and Mark Boucher. MI finished at the bottom of the points table with only 4 wins from 14 matches.
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What does Mahela Jayawardene bring to the table?
Jayawardene is one of the most successful coaches in the T20 circuit. The former Sri Lankan batter held the position of head coach of MI from 2017 to 2022.
Under his guidance, Mumbai tasted success immediately, winning the IPL in 2017. Jayawardene further mentored them to title triumphs in 2019 and 2021.
In 2022, the franchises had a forgettable outing, finishing at the bottom. That was the last season for Jayawardene as MI’s head coach in his first stint.
Later, he was made MI’s global head of performance, overseeing the franchises’ all teams in other T20 leagues. The broader role included looking after coaching and scouting for MI’s four teams — MI, MI Emirates, MI Cape Town, and MI New York.
He held the post from 2022 to 2024 before returning as Mumbai’s head coach ahead of IPL 2025.
Jayawardene is also the head coach of Southern Brave in the Hundred competition and Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League.
Read Also:- IPL 2025 Retained Players List
How was Mark Boucher’s stint as head coach?
Former South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher replaced Jayawardene as MI’s head coach in 2023.
In his first season, the Indians qualified for the playoffs. MI beat Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator by 81 runs. But they faltered against Gujarat Titans in the Qualifier 2, losing the match by 62 runs and ending their 2023 campaign.
The 2024 season was chaotic for MI, as the franchise traded Hardik Pandya from the Titans and appointed him as their captain, replacing their most successful skipper, Rohit Sharma.
The duo of Boucher and Pandya couldn’t click from the start and ended the season with only 4 wins and 8 points. That turned out to be the reason for Boucher’s departure from the role.
What’s ahead for Jayawardene?
He will have the huge task of building a new team while retaining the core in his second stint. Jayawardene will have to bring everyone on the same page to taste major success again.
