Mahela Jayawardene has stepped down as the head coach of Mumbai Indians (MI), an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, which announced the development on social media on Saturday. The Sri Lankan has been in the post in two stints, first from 2017 to 2022 and then from 2024 to 2026. His exit points to a possible shake-up at Mumbai Indians, five-time champions of the IPL ahead of the 2027 season.

The developments come at the same time as there have been reports of other changes at MI. According to a recent NDTV report, sources within the franchise said MI are willing to trade captain Hardik Pandya ahead of IPL 2027, and are open to offers.

Mahela Jayawardene's second stint ends after inconsistent IPL campaigns

Jayawardene was one of the key figures behind Mumbai Indians' success in his initial spell as head coach as they won three of their five IPL titles. However, his second stint as the man at the helm has not been as fruitful as the side failed to click.

While Mumbai Indians languished at the bottom of the points table in IPL 2024, they made it to Qualifier 2 in 2025. In IPL 2026, their campaign came to an end in the ninth position. Jayawardene's second stint has been a far cry from his first as Mumbai Indians went from being one of the most consistent sides in the IPL to finishing as low as ninth.

Speaking about his exit as head coach of Mumbai Indians, Jayawardene thanked the franchise, management, players, coaching staff, and the fans.

“Mumbai Indians has been a very special part of my journey for over a decade now. The players, coaching team, the incredible support of the #OneFamily and, above all, the fans have made this an experience I will always treasure.

Together, we have shared some unforgettable moments, overcome challenges and created 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. I wish the team every success in the years ahead,” he said.

Apart from being the head coach of Mumbai Indians, Jayawardene was the Global Head of Performance for the franchise where he oversaw the expansion into international leagues and collaborated with the coaching staff across all teams.

Under his guidance, Mumbai Indians Women (WPL), MI New York (MLC) and MI Emirates (ILT20) emerged champions in their respective leagues. His contributions to the overall setup of Mumbai Indians will be fondly remembered by the fans.

As IPL 2027 approaches, Mumbai Indians need to make crucial decisions about their coaching setup and players. There is also speculation about a potential change in leadership at the franchise as Hardik Pandya may take up the role of captain.