Pollard Named Mumbai Indians Head Coach as Jayawardene Era Ends

Former Caribbean star Kieron Pollard has been appointed head coach of Mumbai Indians, the joint most successful team in the Indian Premier League with five titles.

Pollard succeeds Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene, who recently stepped down after a seven-year association with the franchise, during which Mumbai won three titles under him. The 39-year-old Pollard now takes over the top job.

He has served as the team's batting coach for the past four years, so his knowledge of the squad and dressing room is expected to be a major asset in the new role.

Reacting to the appointment, Pollard said taking charge of Mumbai Indians was a great honour. The franchise, he said, forms a huge part of his life and career, and his close bond with the players and the supporters — known as the Paltan — means a great deal to him.

As a player, the all-rounder spent his entire IPL career, from 2010 to 2022, in Mumbai's blue jersey. In 189 matches he scored 3,412 runs and took 69 wickets.

Pollard played a major on-field role in all five of Mumbai's title wins — in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.

Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani welcomed the new head coach with enthusiasm, recalling that Pollard had joined the franchise as a young player at just 22 years of age.

After a successful chapter of three titles under Jayawardene, Pollard's challenge will be to maintain that consistency and return the team to title contention.

The move from batting coach to head coach in the same dressing room stands as a striking example of a franchise handing responsibility to one of its own.

Supporters will now wait to see how far the man who helped Mumbai win five titles as a player can take the side as its coach.