The first big move of Mumbai Indians’ off-season is a farewell. The franchise and head coach Mahela Jayawardene have mutually agreed to part ways ahead of IPL 2027, ending a long association that brought the club three of its five titles.

The timing matters. It comes as the franchise gets ready for the mini-auction, and amid growing reports that Rohit Sharma could return as captain.

The farewell

Mumbai Indians said in a social media post that Jayawardene had been “much more than a Head Coach” to the club and noted that the team won three IPL titles under his leadership. Owner Nita Ambani thanked him for his significant contribution over the years.

Jayawardene said Mumbai Indians had been “a very special part of my journey” for over a decade, and that he leaves with pride in what they achieved together.

A decade with MI

The Sri Lankan great first took over as head coach before IPL 2017, replacing Ricky Ponting, and held the role until the end of the 2022 season. The team won the title in 2017, 2019 and 2020 during that period. He was then promoted to Global Head of Performance as the franchise expanded into overseas leagues such as the SA20, ILT20 and Major League Cricket.

He came back as head coach in October 2024 on a contract reported as two years with a further year as an option. That second stint produced no title.

A rebuild after a poor season

The exit follows a difficult 2026. Mumbai Indians, captained by Hardik Pandya, finished ninth with four wins from 14 matches, and were the second team to be knocked out of the tournament. For a franchise that is level with Chennai as the competition’s most successful side, it was a sharp fall.

The Rohit Sharma question

Reports say MI are weighing a return of Rohit Sharma to the captaincy. Rohit led the side to five titles before the franchise replaced him with Hardik Pandya ahead of the 2024 season, a decision that divided fans. Rohit has remained with the team as a player and was among the 20 retained for 2026.

The franchise has not announced anything on the captaincy. For now, it is speculation, and the club’s choices on captain and coach are likely to be linked.

What MI needs to decide

The immediate task is to find a new head coach before the mid-November retention deadline for IPL 2027. The coach will have a say in which players are kept and which are released before the mini-auction, so the timing is tight. The captaincy, the make-up of the support staff and the squad all need settling at once.

What to watch

Who the franchise names as head coach, whether it confirms a change of captain, and which senior players are retained or released will show how deep the rebuild goes.

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