Sri Lankan veteran player Mahela Jayawardene has resigned from the post of head coach of 5-time IPL champion Mumbai Indians. The franchise confirmed this on Saturday. This was Jayawardene's second stint as head coach of MI. He led MI to three IPL titles in his first tenure. This tenure of Jayawardene lasted from 2017 to 2022. After this he again took over the responsibility of head coach before the 2025 season and worked till 2026.
MI owner Nita Ambani said on Jayawardene's departure that he had contributed significantly to the team's success. Nita Ambani said in her statement, 'Mahela has made significant contributions to Mumbai Indians over the years. His calm leadership, honesty and deep love for the game mean a lot to us. On behalf of the Mumbai Indians family, I express my gratitude to Mahela for her years of invaluable contribution and unwavering commitment.
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What did Jayawardene say?
Jayawardene also expressed his gratitude to the franchise and its owners while remembering his long association with the team. He said, 'Mumbai Indians has been a very special part of my journey for the last decade. The incredible support from the players, the coaching team, OneFamily and most of all the fans have made this an experience I will always remember. Jayawardene's first stint as head coach saw MI win three IPL titles in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
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He was re-appointed head coach ahead of the 2025 season, replacing Mark Boucher. Mumbai Indians finished fourth in IPL 2025, while their campaign in 2026 was not good and the 5-time champion team finished 9th. MI will now have to appoint a new head coach before the last date to retain players in IPL on November 15. The IPL auction is likely to be held in Goa in December.