Mahela Jayawardena steps down as Mumbai Indians coach for a bigger role
Mahela Jayawardena has decided to step down as head coach of the Mumbai Indians franchise. Quite recently, the former Sri Lankan captain was elevated to a bigger role within the franchise, amidst their increasing international presence.
The Mumbai Indians owners have acquired two new teams, the MI Emirates from the UAE-based International League T20, and MI Cape Town from the South Africa-based SA20 T20 League. Notably, both leagues will be launched with their inaugural season in January 2023.
Jayawardena quits coaching role after getting promotion
Jayawardena joined the Mumbai Indians camp as their head coach in 2017, replacing former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting in the role. Under his tenure, the Rohit Sharma-led side has lifted the IPL title three times, including twice in successive years in 2019 and 2020.
According to a statement released by the Mumbai Indians, Jayawardena will now become the global head of performance. The franchise said:
“With the expansion of MI #OneFamily which now includes MI Emirates and MI Cape Town along with Mumbai Indians, the team management recognised the need for a central team. As part of building the structure, two MI veterans Mahela Jayawardena and Zaheer Khan with deep knowledge of the MI value system and proven track record, are being elevated to new roles.”
Jayawardena himself expressed his gratitude over his newfound role, describing it as an “honour” for him. The legendary cricketer said:
“It is an absolute honour for me to lead MI’s global cricket operations. Mrs. Ambani and Akash’s leadership and guidance have made MI the most valued global cricket franchise and I am very happy to see MI grow globally. I look forward to this new responsibility to build a strong cohesive global brand of cricket.”
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