Mumbai Indians have welcomed back former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene as their head coach for IPL 2025. Jayawardene is stepping in for Mark Boucher, under whom the team finished last in IPL 2024, a disappointing season for the franchise. This isn’t Jayawardene’s first time with Mumbai Indians—he previously served as head coach from 2017 to 2022, during which he helped the team clinch three IPL titles.
Reflecting on his return, Jayawardene expressed excitement, saying, “In 2017, we focused on bringing together a talented group of players, and we succeeded in playing great cricket. Now, returning at this point in MI’s history, I’m thrilled to build on our past achievements, embrace the owners’ vision, and contribute to the legacy of the Mumbai Indians.”
In 2022, after his successful stint as head coach, Jayawardene took on a broader role as the franchise’s global head of performance. In that position, he oversaw not only Mumbai Indians but also the development and management of MI’s other teams: MI Emirates in the UAE’s ILT20, MI Cape Town in South Africa’s SA20, and MI New York in the USA’s MLC. Known for his strategic insights and experience, Jayawardene is one of the most successful coaches in T20 cricket.
“We are thrilled to have Mahela Jayawardene back as the head coach of Mumbai Indians”: Akash Ambani
MI owner Akash Ambani expressed his enthusiasm about Jayawardene’s return. “We are thrilled to have Mahela back as the head coach of Mumbai Indians. With our global teams established, we saw an opportunity for him to rejoin MI. His knowledge, passion, and leadership have always brought out the best in our team,” Ambani shared.
Jayawardene’s immediate priority will be to finalize Mumbai’s player retentions ahead of the October 31 deadline. The franchise has an increased purse of INR 120 crore for the 2025 auction, which is INR 20 crore more than the previous season, giving the team flexibility to build a competitive squad.
Under Boucher’s leadership, Mumbai Indians made it to the playoffs in IPL 2023, losing to the Gujarat Titans in the second qualifier. However, IPL 2024 was a rough season for MI, finishing at the bottom of the points table with only four wins out of 14 games.
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