Proteas great Mark Boucher sacked as Mumbai Indians IPL coach

Mumbai Indians have confirmed the reappointment of former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene as their head coach ahead of IPL 2025.

Jayawardene had previously served as Mumbai’s head coach from 2017 to 2022.

The 47-year-old takes over from Proteas great Mark Boucher, under whom the franchise finished last in this year’s tournament.

Mahela Jayawardene led Mumbai Indians to three IPL titles

Jayawardene is among the most successful coaches in T20 cricket, having led Mumbai Indians to three titles during his first tenure.

“My journey within the MI family has always been one of evolution,” Jayawardene said in a statement.

“In 2017, the focus was on bringing together a talented group of individuals to play the best cricket ever and we did very well. Now to return, at the same moment in history, where we look ahead at the future and the opportunity to further strengthen the love of MI, build on the vision of the owners, and continue to add to the history of Mumbai Indians, is an exciting challenge I am looking forward to.”

In 2022, Jayawardene became the Global Head of Cricket, overseeing the expansion of the expansion of MI’s global teams across different leagues, working with the coaching staff and delivering a trophy each – with MI (WPL), MI NY (MLC) and MIE (ILT20).

With each of these teams having a set coaching staff, who also coach multiple teams in the MI family mirroring the ethos, style of play and decision-making that elevate the cricket played by the MI OneFamily, Mahela’s role has now again evolved within the MI ecosystem.

Mark Boucher scored over 10 000 runs for South Africa

Under Boucher, Mumbai made the playoffs in IPL 2023, when they lost the second qualifier to Gujarat Titans, but in the next season they finished at the bottom of the points table with just four wins in 14 games.

Boucher, 47, played 147 Tests, 295 ODIs and 25 T20Is for South Africa, scoring over 10 000 runs in total.

One of the greatest wicketkeepers to ever play the game, Boucher had 999 catches and stumpings across all three formats of the game.

The dates of next year’s IPL have yet to be confirmed.