![Pollard appointed MI head coach [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792817319961_PollardappointedMIheadcoach.jpg?type=hq)
Pollard appointed MI head coach [Source: AFP]
In the latest development, the Mumbai Indians have announced former player Kieron Pollard as their new head coach ahead of the IPL 2027 season. Pollard replaces Mahela Jayawardene, who stepped down from the post a few days ago.
After his playing days with the Mumbai Indians, Pollard was appointed the team’s batting coach, but now, the franchise has elevated him to a new role as the West Indian legend will now be in charge of the team as their head coach.
Pollard replaces Jayawardene as new head coach faces an uphill task
Mahela Jayawardene’s second stint as the Mumbai Indians head coach didn’t go according to plan as the franchise failed to deliver despite boasting some of the big names on the circuit. In the 2026 season, they failed to qualify for the playoffs, and as a result, the Sri Lankan great stepped away from the role.
Pollard replaced him, and the newly appointed head coach faces an uphill task as the team has several loopholes, and there is uncertainty surrounding the Hardik Pandya captaincy saga.
Mumbai have not won a single IPL title since the 2020 season, and the West Indian will hope to turn things around quickly.
Pollard was not the front-runner to replace Jayawardene
Interestingly, Pollard was reportedly not the first choice to replace Jayawardene as the Mumbai Indians head coach. A veteran of the game, the West Indian all-rounder knows the MI setup inside out; hence, the franchise decided to elevate him from a batting coach to a head coach.
Reportedly, the five-time IPL winners had five names shortlisted after Jayawardene left the post vacant. Former World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, Australian legends Aaron Finch and Michael Hussey, and former South African greats Adrian Birrell & Mark Boucher were the candidates leading the race to become the new MI coach.
However, just like CSK, who picked Zaheer Khan as their new head coach, MI also made a surprising choice to replace the outgoing coach with Pollard.
Pollard’s first big assignment as the Mumbai Indians head coach will be to assemble a strong team in the upcoming IPL 2027 mini auction, set to take place in December.
