Mahela Jayawardene stepped down from his role as Mumbai Indians head coach on October 17, 2026. The Sri Lankan mentor had orchestrated three of the franchise's five title wins during his tenure, claiming championships in 2017, 2019 and 2020. However, his recent return to the position saw the team finish fourth in 2025 and at the bottom of the table in 2026, prompting his decision to depart.
James Pamment, who worked alongside Jayawardene at Mumbai Indians for eight years as fielding coach, expressed his reaction to the coaching change. Pamment was appointed to his fielding role in December 2017 and spent considerable time observing the franchise's operations and player development systems.
"I was a little bit shocked actually when I saw at the weekend that Mahela had decided to step down. I enjoyed a lot of years working alongside Mahela. So passionate about Mumbai Indians, so passionate about the performance of the team as well. He was so passionate about helping develop the players, especially the Indian players, to go on and become significant players for India as well, which a number of those guys now are when coming on this trip to New Zealand. So, I was surprised. I'm sort of out of the loop now, so I'm not sure what the inner workings are. Let's see," Pamment said as quoted by NDTV Sports.
Why Pamment backs Pollard for the role?
Pamment identified Kieron Pollard as the standout candidate to assume the head coaching position at Mumbai Indians. Pollard began his IPL playing career at the franchise and later transitioned into coaching, starting as the team's batting coach. According to Pamment, Pollard possesses the necessary credentials and deep connection to the club to lead the team forward.
"Really, other than Kieron Pollard, I'm not sure who could take over. There's been lots of names mentioned, but for me, if Kieron feels he's ready to take it on, he'd be the man I'd give the job to. But I've heard about (Mike) Hussey, or this, that and the other people. But there's a guy there who bleeds blue and gold," said Pamment.
"He started his coaching career there and, once again, if he can put good people around him, I think he's a guy who would have respect from the players. He's definitely got the knowledge about playing T20 cricket, especially in the IPL. But let's see - the owners might have something else in mind," he added.
Zaheer Khan's transition to Chennai Super Kings
Mumbai Indians face a tight timeline to appoint their new head coach. The franchise must complete the appointment before the retention deadline for IPL 2027, with the mini auction scheduled for December 16 in Goa. This compressed schedule means the decision will need to be made within weeks.
Zaheer Khan has taken on a new role at Chennai Super Kings following the departure of long-serving head coach Stephen Fleming. Zaheer previously served as director of cricket operations at Mumbai Indians before moving to his new position at the Chennai-based franchise. Pamment reflected on this parallel transition in the coaching landscape.
"It's going to be an interesting time for Zaheer here with Chennai. So, I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes. Retentions and squad building are really important. I guess they are your foundation for the season ahead. So, if they feel they need to make changes and additions, then this is a really important time to get the players on board that you feel you need," said Pamment.
"For Zaheer, I think it will be very important that he builds a management team that complements his style. I think he's very good at bringing a team together, a very team-oriented and cohesive type of person from my experience when he was at Mumbai. So, as long as he's got coaches with the skill sets to impart their knowledge and wisdom to the players around him, I think he's got an opportunity to do really well," he concluded.
