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The Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday, October 14, made the momentous announcement of bringing Mahela Jayawardene back as their head coach for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. He replaces Mark Boucher at the helm.
The Sri Lankan has previously served as the head coach of the franchise from 2017 to 2022. The franchise felt it important to bring him back given that they finished last in the league under Boucher in 2024.
Jayawardene had led MI to three IPL titles during his tenure as is one of the most successful coaches in the cash-rich tournament. After that, he took up a broader role as the franchise's global head of performance.
In this listicle, we take a look at three reasons why MI going back to Jayawardene is a good move:
#1 It can bring them back to their winning ways
Jayawardene is a proven winner, having led MI to three IPL titles during his first stint as head coach of the franchise, and this is bound to have a big effect on the side this time as well. Having experienced a slump in form in the 2024 season, MI will desperately want to aim for the title.
The Lankan is a good tactician, and MI have often played well under his leadership. The long-term plans he brings into the franchise will help them a lot, and allow their young players to gel with the seniors quickly. Jayawardene's no-nonsense attitude to coaching makes him tough but fair.
#2 It will provide them with some long-term stability
As mentioned earlier, Jayawardene has been with the franchise for a long time and knows what makes it tick. The team tasted a lot of success under him in his first stint, and that is why the owners decided to bring him back into this role. This time, he will be expected to bring a lot of stability to the side.
Jayawardene brings with him a lot of experience of having worked not just with MI but also with Sri Lanka in various positions as well as in the Bangladesh Premier League and the Hundred. He has the best of the franchise in mind and will work towards achieving long-term growth and stability.
#3 He is the best man to oversee the Rohit-Pandya debacle
In a lot of ways, Jayawardene is also the right man to oversee the issue surrounding Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya in the franchise. The latter was brought back from Gujarat Titans with the intention of making him the captain in the 2024 season, but that led to indifferent results.
Mark Boucher was not very clear on the issue surrounding the change in captaincy, and this perhaps led to Sharma feeling alienated. Jayawardene, however, has always been respected by the latter, and his appointment may bridge the gap between the two senior India professionals in the side.
