Mahela Jayawardene Replaces Mark Boucher as Mumbai Indians Head Coach

In advance of IPL 2025, the five-time IPL champion Mumbai Indians (MI) have named former Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene their new head coach. Jayawardene will supplant Imprint Boucher who was in charge for the last two seasons in 2023 and 2024 separately. The legendary coach from Sri Lanka coached Mumbai from 2017 to 2022.

Mahela Jayawardene is the New MI Head Coach

Mumbai became the most successful IPL franchise under his leadership in 2017, when they won their third title. Mahela Jayawardene also contributed to Mumbai's achievement of adding two more trophies to their collection in the years 2019 and 2020, bringing their total to five, a feat that has only been matched by CSK since then.

Mahela Jayawardene was promoted to the position of Global Head of Cricket in 2022. In this position, he was responsible for the expansion of MI's global teams into various leagues, collaborated with the coaching staff, and won trophies for MI (WPL), MI NY (MLC), and MIE (ILT20).

Disastrous Season For MI in 2024

After Mumbai's disastrous 2024 season, when the team was led by Hardik Pandya, the team's new captain, with just four wins from ten matches, Mahela will once more serve as the head coach.

After being transferred from Gujarat, Pandya rejoined MI prior to the 2024 season. Pandya was also promoted to captain the team upon his return, succeeding Rohit Sharma, who had led them to all five championships.

Mahela's Expressed Excitement On His Appointment

Additionally, Mahela Jayawardene expressed excitement regarding the appointment and stated that his experience with MI has significantly shaped him.

'Within the MI family, my journey has always been one of evolution. In 2017, we did very well by bringing together a talented group of people to play the best cricket ever. "It is an exciting challenge I am looking forward to now to return, at the same moment in history, where we look forward to the future and the opportunity to further strengthen the love of MI, build on the vision of the owners, and continue to add to the history of Mumbai Indians," Mahela Jayawardene stated in a release.'