Former Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene has been reinstated as the head coach of the Mumbai Indians, the five-time IPL champions. He takes over from Mark Boucher, whose tenure saw MI finish at the bottom in 2024. Jayawardene previously coached the team from 2017 to 2022.
He is recognized as one of the most successful coaches in franchise history, leading the Mumbai Indians to three IPL titles during his time. After joining in 2017, he elevated the team’s performance significantly. He aims for a strong return in the 2025 season.
“My journey within the MI family has always been one of evolution. In 2017, the focus was on bringing together a talented group of individuals to play the best cricket ever and we did very well.”
“Now to return, at the same moment in history, where we look ahead at 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, is an exciting challenge I am looking forward to,” Jayawardene was quoted as saying in a statement.
Although Mahela Jayawardene is well-acquainted with the Mumbai Indians’ structure, he will encounter significant challenges in his second term as head coach. The 2024 season was one of the worst in MI’s IPL history, and there are several issues the new head coach must tackle.
With that in mind, let’s examine three key challenges Jayawardene faces as MI head coach for IPL 2025:
#1 Jayawardene needs to handle the situation involving Hardik Pandya
The five-time IPL champions, Mumbai Indians, appointed Hardik Pandya as captain for the 2024 season, replacing Rohit Sharma, who had led the team to five titles. This decision was unpopular among many MI fans.
Hardik faced consistent booing at stadiums, and the situation worsened as the tournament continued. Additionally, Mark Boucher’s unclear comments about the captaincy change may have contributed to MI’s decision to return to a proven leader.
It remains uncertain whether Hardik Pandya will be retained by the franchise. Prior to his appointment, MI management expressed a desire to focus on the future, which led to Hardik being chosen for the captaincy. However, given the turmoil of the 2024 season, it will be intriguing to see what lies ahead for Hardik with the team.
#2 There should be consistency in selecting the playing XI
The year 2024 was one of the most forgettable for the Mumbai Indians, as they struggled to perform and failed to function cohesively as a team. The squad appeared disjointed, with a lack of clarity regarding the playing XI throughout most of the season.
Nehal Wadhera, who had some standout performances in the 2023 IPL, received limited opportunities in 2024. Similarly, the foreign players also lacked consistent playing time, and their roles were not well-defined.
This ultimately led to a disastrous season for MI. With Jayawardene back as head coach, he will need to assign specific roles to players and provide them with more consistent opportunities.
#3 Rohit Sharma’s retention
Jayawardene’s primary challenge as head coach of the Mumbai Indians (MI) for IPL 2025 will be to ensure the retention of Rohit Sharma. The decision to appoint Hardik Pandya as captain prior to IPL 2024 stirred considerable unrest among MI fans, who felt strongly about the team’s direction.
Criticism from former players and analysts emerged regarding MI management’s choice to let go of Rohit while he was still the captain of the Indian national team. A viral video featuring Rohit and Abhishek Nayar heightened speculation about 2024 potentially being Rohit’s last season with the franchise, further intensifying fan concerns.
Despite the team’s struggles in the IPL, Rohit led India to their second T20 World Cup title, which has cemented his status in Indian cricket history. While the future of Rohit with MI remains uncertain, Jayawardene is committed to making every effort to retain the record-breaking captain.
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