Jayawardene steps down from his role at Mumbai following a string of failures

Mahela Jayawardene has ended his nearly decade-long association with the Mumbai Indians. The former Sri Lankan captain has stepped down from his position as head coach of the IPL franchise, a development confirmed by the team in an official statement today.

Jayawardene served as the head coach of the Mumbai Indians over two separate stints. During his first tenure—spanning from 2017 to 2022—the team secured the IPL title three times. Subsequently, from 2022 to 2024, he held the role of Head of Global Performance for the franchise. Ahead of the 2025 IPL season, he returned to the role of head coach, succeeding Mark Boucher.

However, the Sri Lankan coach did not find success during this second stint. In the 2025 IPL, although the team finished the league stage in fourth place, they were eliminated in Qualifier 2. In the 2026 edition, they finished in ninth place. Overall, the team's recent performances had come under scrutiny.

Reflecting on his departure, Jayawardene expressed his gratitude for his time with the Mumbai Indians. In a statement, he said, "For over a decade, the Mumbai Indians have been a very special part of my journey. The players, the coaching staff, the members of the 'One Family,' and, above all, the fans have made this experience truly memorable for me."

Nita Ambani, co-owner of the Mumbai Indians, also praised Jayawardene’s contributions, stating, "Mahela has made significant contributions to the Mumbai Indians over the years. His calm leadership, integrity, and deep love for the game have been invaluable to us. On behalf of the entire Mumbai family, I thank him for his contributions and his unwavering commitment."

With Jayawardene’s departure, the Mumbai Indians must now search for a new head coach. The deadline for submitting the list of retained players for the IPL is November 15, and it is anticipated that the player auction will take place in Goa about a month later. Consequently, alongside appointing a new coach, the franchise must also expedite the process of assembling its squad.

Mumbai last won the IPL title in 2020. Since then, the team has not reached an IPL final. Under Jayawardene’s leadership, the side emerged as champions twice in a row—in 2019 and 2020. They also hold the distinction of being the first team in IPL history to successfully defend their title.