“Mumbai Indians has been a really particular a part of my journey for over a decade now,” Jayawardene mentioned in an MI assertion. “The gamers, teaching workforce, the unimaginable assist of the #OneFamily and above all of the followers have made this an expertise I’ll all the time treasure. Collectively, we’ve got shared some unforgettable moments, overcome challenges and constructed one thing we are able to all be happy with. I wish to sincerely thank Mrs. Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani for his or her unwavering belief, assist and friendship through the years. I go away with immense pleasure in what we’ve got achieved collectively and can all the time carry a particular place in my coronary heart for MI. I want the workforce each success within the years forward.”
Cricinfo has discovered that the query of a attainable change in teaching workers got here up through the 2026 season overview in August, when each the participant management group and the franchise agreed they wanted to search for a change. It’s understood Jayawardene, too, agreed with the point of view of bringing in youthful coaches to usher in contemporary views.
The brand new coach could have the selection of taking a name on the remainder of the prevailing MI teaching workers which incorporates Kieron Pollard (assistant coach) and Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach).
Jayawardene’ departure leaves MI’s workforce administration in a tough place, with captain Hardik Pandya additionally underneath the highlight after their second-from-bottom end in IPL 2026. Not lengthy after MI completed with simply 4 wins from 14 video games, rumours of a Hardik commerce started circulating in studies and social media. Hardik’s particular person efficiency additionally did not encourage a lot confidence: he took simply 4 wickets in 10 video games and scored 206 runs from 10 innings, hanging at 138.25 with a excessive rating of 40.
Jayawardene took over because the MI head coach earlier than IPL 2025, changing Mark Boucher. Earlier than that, Jayawardene had served as their world head of efficiency from 2022 to 2024. In that place, Jayawardene had additionally overseen MI’s three different franchises – MI Emirates within the ILT20, MI New York in MLC and MI Cape City in SA20.
In his first stint as head coach, Jayawardene received three IPL titles. The second was much less profitable, with MI ending fourth on the league desk in 2025 earlier than shedding in Qualifier 2, and ninth in 2026.
“Mahela has made a big contribution to Mumbai Indians through the years,” MI proprietor Nita Ambani mentioned, “His calm management, integrity and deep love for the sport have meant a lot to us. On behalf of your entire MI household, I wish to thank Mahela for his immense contribution and unwavering dedication through the years. We’ll all the time cherish the journey we’ve got shared and the recollections we’ve got created collectively. Mahela will all the time be part of our #OneFamily, and we want him each happiness and success within the journey forward.”
MI now have to search for a head coach with underneath a month left for the IPL retention deadline – November 15. The IPL public sale is predicted to happen round a month later in Goa.
MI final received the IPL in 2020 after they grew to become the primary workforce to efficiently defend their title. Each trophy wins got here underneath Jayawardene.