- June 2, 2025
We all know it: every IPL season brings about more drama, more champions, and of course, the same discussions – Who is the best captain? Which franchise has the most glorious history? And the one that should get more attention, but seldom does, who is the person making all of this happen whilst in the background – the coaches? Mahela Jayawardene is a name that usually comes up; however, while Mahela is not always the loudest in the room or throwing chairs in the dugout, it seems that his coaching legacy could be quietly becoming one of the better and perhaps pioneering coaching tenures in IPL history.
So, where does Mahela fit among the great coaching fraternity in the IPL?
The Results Don’t Lie: Three Titles and a Dynasty Built
Jayawardene became the head coach of the Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2017, and success came quickly. Under his tutelage, MI became IPL champions in 2017, 2019, and 2020—three titles in a four-season span. Talk about not just success, but also the genesis of a dynasty.
What made these title wins even more astounding was the operational consistency MI exhibited. They were not a one or two-star miracle team—they operated like a well-oiled machine, with clarity of role across the squad, which is easier said than done in a league filled with egos, expectations, and the rampant chaos of last-minute plans.
Even though some may claim Jayawardene had a dream team to work with—Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard—one could make the counterclaim: maybe whatever it was in Mahela was the reason they were a dream team. The best coaches take talent and elevate it to the next level, and I think it’s hard to argue that’s what he did.
The Rohit-Mahela Combo: Captain-Coach Chemistry That Clicked
You cannot have a conversation about Mahela Jayawardene’s coaching legacy without bringing up Rohit Sharma. On the field, their chemistry is a match made in IPL heaven.
What made them a dangerous combination was their shared thought process: both are calm heads under duress, both are tacticians, and both are unafraid to try something new. Plus, unlike many coach-captain partnerships, these two trusted each other and did not let ego get in the way.
From Coach to Cricket Director and Back: A Testament to Trust
In 2022, Jayawardene was promoted to Global Head of Performance for MI, in charge of all teams in the franchise in varying leagues, and was a testament to his vision beyond the IPL. But here is the kicker: MI immediately recalled him to take over and coach the IPL outfit with everything going south, which says everything there needs to be said about the franchise’s trust in him.
Before too long, Mahela has encountered a couple of setbacks and a couple of transitions with MI’s bowling line-up with the releases of players that propelled MI to the top of the bowling rankings, but the systems Mahela has always seemed to be able to get MI back on a path where they are making gains. The 2024 and 2025 seasons have given MI the evidence to slowly crawl back to viability – and let’s be honest, that doesn’t occur by happenstance.
Mahela’s vision, his flexibility, and the culture he has created at the Mumbai Indians speak to a coach that is not just any good – he is transformational.
So, where does Mahela Jayawardene rank concerning the best coaches in the IPL? If three championships, a super strong franchise culture, the best captain-coach tandem of all time, and continued faith from one of the biggest franchises in the league isn’t enough to consider him elite, then what is?
For more, visit JeetBuzz News to read our quality Cricket Blog updates. Explore if you want to reminisce and enjoy all of your favourite cricket players and nostalgic match moments. To ensure that you never miss out, keep updated and join in the fun!
