Mahela Jayawardene steps down as Mumbai Indians head coach

Mahela Jayawardene Head Coach of Mumbai Indians during the press conference after the Match 44 of the TATA Indian Premier League 2026 between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India, on May 2, 2026. (BCCI Photo) Mahela Jayawardene has stepped down as head coach of the Mumbai Indians, the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions announced on Saturday. Jayawardene’s departure marks the end of an era at MI, with the Sri Lanka batting great being associated with the franchise since 2022. “Mumbai Indians has been a very special part of my journey for over a decade now. “Together, we have shared some unforgettable moments, overcome challenges and built something we can all be proud of. I want to sincerely thank Mrs. Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani for their unwavering trust, support and friendship over the years. I leave with immense pride in what we have achieved together and will always carry a special place in my heart for MI. ” Jayawardene was head coach of the franchise for three of the five titles that they have won. All three of those victories — in 2017, 2019 and 2020 — came in his first stint as head coach of the team. In 2022, it was announced that Jayawardene will be stepping down as head coach of the team to take a larger role as the Global Head of Performance of the franchise across teams that it owns in other leagues.