Kieron Pollard has replaced Mahela Jayawardene as the new head coach of Mumbai Indians (MI) and he will spearhead their coaching staff starting IPL 2027.
Pollard, who represented MI from IPL 2010 to 2022, took over as their batting coach before IPL 2023. He has now been elevated to the position of head coach. Following his appointment, Pollard sent his first message to Mumbai Indians and asked the team to bring energy and spirit so that fans bring the blue flag in the stands instead of "yellows and the reds". “My first task is bring that energy and spirit. That when you walk into the Wankhede Stadium, you are not seeing the yellows and the reds and stuff like that. You want to see that blue flag flying, and you want to see that passion and spirit from the fans," Pollard said on MI's YouTube channel. "And that can only come firstly from us. So that’s where our work sort of starts—in terms of understanding what we are playing for and who we are playing for. We recognise the fact that we have not been where we wanted to be in the last couple of years," he added. MI have been struggling for the past six years and they haven't played an IPL final since lifting the title in 2020. With the hopes of ending their below-par form, MI brought back Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans (GT) via trade but the move didn't prove to be beneficial. Pandya-led MI finished last in the IPL 2024 points table while they were the ninth-placed team in IPL 2026. MI lost to Punjab Kings in the second qualifier of IPL 2025.
Sachin Tendulkar to stay with MI
Despite the new head coach coming in, Sachin Tendulkar will continue his association with MI. Sachin has been working as MI's icon since 2014 and continues to hold that position. The Indian legend played for MI from IPL 2008 to 2013.
