Mahela Jayawardene is likely to continue as coach of Mumbai Indians; status quo in trade

Mahela Jayawardene (left) and Hardik Pandya NEW DELHI: Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene is likely to continue as head coach of Mumbai Indians (MI) for the 2027 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), with the franchise reluctant to make sweeping changes. It is learned that Jayawardene has joined the five-time champions on a ‘two + one’ deal in 2024 and could be given another year as it will be the final year of the ongoing cycle. An official announcement is expected next month, assuming there is no late change of heart.Under Jayawardene, Mumbai Indians made the play-offs in 2025 but finished ninth the following year. 2026 has been a disappointing year for the IPL giants as they have won just four matches in a campaign marred by injuries, availability concerns and dressing room turmoil.Since a disappointing last season, there has been a lot of talk surrounding the potential trade of their captain Hardik Pandya. Although several franchises have shown interest, there has been no substantial movement in this area yet.TimesofIndia.com has also learned that there has been some dialogue with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but the lack of a marketable asset has not excited MI at the moment. Cameron Green’s name has been on the table, but the MI think tank is wary of the Australian’s workload next year, which includes Australia’s busy Test calendar. As for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), some action is expected once they finalize their new head coach.

Don’t be surprised if he (Hardik Pandya) is not traded at all. Discussions with the player also took place in this sense. For a trade to happen, several things must fall into place. So it’s not that clear cut.

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How will MI handle the Pandya situation? They are looking to keep him as a player for the upcoming season as they plan to go in a new direction under a new captain. The management has already explored the idea and former India captain and MI Rohit Sharma is found to be actively involved in discussions about the captaincy and direction of the team. Rohit’s return as captain was also a possibility, but a new face is likely to emerge as the 39-year-old does not want to wear the armband again. Tilak Varma and Jasprit Bumrah are two potential options, with the scales tipping in favor of the former.“Don’t be surprised if he isn’t traded at all. There have also been discussions with the player to that effect. Several things have to fall into place for a trade to happen. So it’s not that simple,” says a source following the development.

Hardik Pandya

It will be interesting to see how the dynamic develops if Pandya is not traded at all and how the franchise handles the locker room turmoil. A change in captaincy is something they expect to restore normalcy, but managing the turbulence will take considerable effort. Another thing that will require attention is India’s recently sacked T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. Apart from Pandya, there has been talk of a T20 specialist but the franchise seems to be in no mood to let go of their veteran batsman.“Yes, he didn’t have a good season last year, but what about the ones before that? MI don’t drop players based on one season and that’s not how they operate. They are proud of the ‘One Family’ brand and swear by it,” adds the source.As it stands, continuity is key. While a reset cannot be ruled out next cycle, there is no desperation for a 2027 release. A change of captaincy is inevitable, but it may not be a surprise if the status quo continues in other matters.