Mahela Jayawardene Steps Down as Mumbai Indians Head Coach Ahead of IPL Season

The Transition: Mahela Jayawardene officially stepped down from his role as the head coach of the Mumbai Indians (MI) IPL franchise. Global Promotion: Rather than leaving the organization, Jayawardene was elevated to a newly created central role as the Global Head of Performance. In this capacity, he oversees the coaching, strategic alignment, and cricketing philosophy across all franchises under the MI brand umbrella.

Broader Franchise Reshuffle: The structural shift also included the promotion of former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan to Global Head of Cricket Development, creating a unified leadership team to manage the group's expanding international teams and talent scouting pipelines.

"Mumbai Indians has been a very special part of my journey for over a decade now," Jayawardene said in an MI statement. "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 built 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."