NEW DELHI: Mahela Jayawardene is again because the head coach of Mumbai Indians after serving because the franchise’s World Head of Cricket for the final two years. When Mahela was elevated to the worldwide position, MI appointed former South Africa cricketer Mark Boucher as the pinnacle coach in 2023 however have determined to return to the Sri Lankan who has beforehand held the place from 2017 to 2022.
It’s understood that the franchise needed Mahela to concentrate on different groups – MI (Girls’s Premier League), MI NYC (Main League Cricket) and MIE (ILT20) – throughout his time away from the Indian Premier League.The 47-year-old oversaw all groups and performed an important position in establishing completely different backroom set-ups. Whereas MI gained a trophy every in these leagues, it was a struggling interval within the IPL as they completed at backside of the desk twice within the final three seasons.
With an important cycle set to get underway within the cash-rich league, the five-time title winners would look to return to profitable methods and proprietor Akash Ambani is thrilled to have Mahela again as head coach.
“We’re thrilled to have Mahela again because the Head Coach of Mumbai Indians. With our international groups having discovered their footing inside their ecosystems, the chance to carry him again to MI arose. His management, data, and keenness for the sport have all the time benefited MI. I might additionally prefer to take this chance to thank Mark Boucher for his contribution during the last two seasons. His experience and dedication had been pivotal throughout his time, and has now turn out to be an integral member of the MI household,” stated Ambani.
The Sri Lankan legend too may be very excited for the problem forward and needs to construct on the imaginative and prescient of the homeowners.
“My journey throughout the MI household has all the time been considered one of evolution. In 2017, the main focus was on bringing collectively a proficient group of people to play the most effective cricket ever and we did very effectively. Now to return, on the similar second in historical past, the place we glance forward on the future and the chance to additional strengthen the love of MI, construct on the imaginative and prescient of the homeowners, and proceed so as to add to the historical past of Mumbai Indians, is an thrilling problem I’m trying ahead to,” stated Jayawardene.
The primary problem for Mahela goes to be finalising the retentions earlier than the October 31 deadline. There isn’t a dearth of star energy within the MI dugout and the 5 retentions + one Proper To Match (RTM) provides them a good shot at retaining their core gamers.
As TOI.com had written earlier this month, the retention guidelines for the 2025-27 cycles are very a lot in favour of the IPL giants as they get to retain the likes of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav, and the gamers can be proud of the worth tag too.
Extra motion has already begun within the MI backroom employees and, as TOI had reported this morning, former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey is about to affix the franchise as their bowling coach. They have already got Lasith Malinga who’s prone to proceed because the bowling mentor.
