After serving as the Mumbai Indians’ global head of cricket for the previous two years, Mahela Jayawardene was reappointed as head coach of the squad, the Indian Premier League (IPL) side announced on Sunday.
During his first stint, the former captain of Sri Lanka led the five-time IPL champions to three crowns, making him one of the most successful coaches in the Twenty20 league format. The 47-year-old Jayawardene served as head coach from 2017 until 2022.
Former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher was named head coach of the Mumbai Indians following Jayawardene’s promotion to the international team. Under Boucher’s leadership, the team placed fourth in the 2023 IPL and last in 2024.
Mahela’s return as the Mumbai Indians’ head coach makes us very happy. The chance to bring him back to MI presented itself as our international teams had established themselves in their own ecosystems. MI has always benefited from his leadership, expertise, and love of the game,” Mumbai Indians co-owner Akash Ambani said in a statement on Sunday.
Additionally, I want to use this chance to express my gratitude to Mark Boucher for his contributions during the last two seasons. His knowledge and commitment were crucial in his day, and he is now a vital part of the MI family,” he stated.
