Mumbai Indians Part Ways With Lasith Malinga, Paras Mhambrey and Carl Hopkinson Ahead of IPL 2027
Mumbai Indians have officially parted ways with bowling coaches Lasith Malinga and Paras Mhambrey, along with fielding coach Carl Hopkinson, ahead of IPL 2027. The five-time champions confirmed all three departures on October 29, 2026, as new head coach Kieron Pollard continues rebuilding the support staff.
The announcement comes five days after Pollard was promoted from batting coach to head coach, replacing Mahela Jayawardene, who left the franchise on October 17.
MI have now changed their head coach and parted ways with three specialist coaches in less than two weeks. No replacements for Malinga, Mhambrey or Hopkinson have been announced.
Mumbai Indians Confirm Three Coaching Staff Departures
Mumbai Indians announced the changes through an official statement on Thursday, thanking all three coaches for their contributions.
The departures affect two important departments: bowling and fielding.
MI Coaching Staff Changes for IPL 2027
| Coach | Previous role | IPL 2027 status |
|---|---|---|
| Kieron Pollard | Batting coach | Promoted to head coach |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Head coach | Departed October 17 |
| Lasith Malinga | Bowling coach | Departed October 29 |
| Paras Mhambrey | Bowling coach | Departed October 29 |
| Carl Hopkinson | Fielding coach | Departed October 29 |
| New batting coach | Not announced | Pending |
| New bowling and fielding coaches | Not announced | Pending |
The official Mumbai Indians statement confirmed that Malinga, Mhambrey and Hopkinson would move on from their respective positions in the men’s coaching setup.
The franchise did not provide specific reasons for their departures or identify potential replacements.
Lasith Malinga Leaves Mumbai Indians After Long Association
Lasith Malinga’s departure is particularly significant because of his history with Mumbai Indians.
The former Sri Lanka fast bowler played for MI between 2009 and 2019, becoming one of the most successful bowlers in the franchise’s history.
He took 170 IPL wickets in 122 matches, all for Mumbai Indians.
Malinga was part of four IPL championship-winning teams in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019. He also helped Mumbai win the 2011 Champions League T20.
His most memorable contribution came in the IPL 2019 final against Chennai Super Kings, when he defended nine runs in the final over and dismissed Shardul Thakur on the last delivery to secure a one-run victory.
After retiring, Malinga worked as a fast-bowling coach with Rajasthan Royals before returning to Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024.
He subsequently worked with MI’s bowling attack, bringing extensive experience in yorkers, slower deliveries and death-over bowling.
His departure ends another chapter in a long association with the franchise.
Paras Mhambrey Also Departs Mumbai Indians
Paras Mhambrey has completed his second coaching stint with Mumbai Indians.
The former India fast bowler first worked with MI between 2010 and 2017, contributing to the franchise’s early championship success.
He returned in October 2024 after completing his assignment as India’s bowling coach.
Mhambrey was part of India’s coaching staff under Rahul Dravid during the team’s victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign.
His work at Mumbai focused on bowling preparation, player development and supporting both experienced and younger fast bowlers.
Alongside Malinga, he gave MI two specialist bowling coaches with different backgrounds.
Malinga brought experience as a successful international death bowler, while Mhambrey contributed his knowledge of coaching systems and player development.
Both bowling coaches have now departed together, leaving Mumbai Indians to decide how the department will operate under Pollard.
Who Is Carl Hopkinson, MI’s Departing Fielding Coach?
Carl Hopkinson joined Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2025 as fielding coach, replacing James Pamment.
The English coach previously worked with England’s men’s national team as lead fielding coach between 2018 and 2024.
During that period, England won the 2019 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Hopkinson’s responsibilities at Mumbai included improving fielding standards, catching preparation and movement in the field.
His role was separate from those of Malinga and Mhambrey.
The latest changes therefore affect more than the bowling department. Mumbai must also establish who will lead fielding preparation for IPL 2027.
The franchise has not confirmed Hopkinson’s successor.
Mumbai Indians Coaching Staff Under Kieron Pollard
The departures come shortly after Mumbai Indians promoted Kieron Pollard to head coach on October 24.
Pollard had served as batting coach since IPL 2023 after retiring from the tournament as a player in 2022.
He represented Mumbai Indians throughout his IPL playing career and won five championships with the franchise.
His appointment was confirmed in the official Mumbai Indians announcement.
The latest departures leave several questions about the support staff.
Pollard previously handled batting responsibilities, while Malinga and Mhambrey worked with the bowlers and Hopkinson managed fielding.
With those roles changing, Mumbai will need to clarify the distribution of coaching responsibilities before the new season.
The most important distinction is that Pollard’s position as head coach is confirmed, while the new specialist coaching appointments remain pending.
The updated Mumbai Indians IPL 2027 team page covers the franchise’s coaching changes, squad and captaincy status.
Why Are Mumbai Indians Rebuilding Their Coaching Staff?
Mumbai Indians are making major changes after a disappointing IPL 2026 season.
The franchise finished ninth in the league stage, winning only four of its 14 matches.
MI reached Qualifier 2 in 2025 but could not maintain that performance the following year.
| IPL season | Mumbai Indians’ performance |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Champions |
| 2025 | Reached Qualifier 2 |
| 2026 | Ninth, 4 wins and 10 defeats |
| 2027 | New coaching setup led by Kieron Pollard |
Mumbai have not won an IPL championship since 2020.
Their latest coaching overhaul creates an opportunity to change preparation methods and reassess player development.
However, the franchise has not stated that the three departures were directly caused by particular performances or disagreements.
No such explanation should be assumed without confirmation.
What Do Malinga and Mhambrey’s Exits Mean for MI’s Bowlers?
The departure of both bowling coaches is one of the most important aspects of the announcement.
Mumbai’s previous squad included Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar and several additional pace options.
Malinga and Mhambrey were responsible for working with bowlers who have different strengths and roles.
Bumrah provides control and wicket-taking ability across multiple phases, while Boult offers left-arm swing with the new ball.
Chahar brings powerplay experience, and younger Indian bowlers require continued technical development.
The next bowling coach or coaching combination will need to maintain that work.
Important areas include:
- Powerplay bowling: New-ball movement, accuracy and attacking plans.
- Death overs: Yorkers, slower deliveries and execution under pressure.
- Player development: Helping younger fast bowlers improve consistency.
These are existing requirements of Mumbai’s bowling unit, not newly announced assignments.
The franchise has also not confirmed whether it will appoint two bowling coaches again or restructure the department differently.
Will MI’s Coaching Changes Affect IPL 2027 Retentions?
The coaching changes come before the IPL 2027 retention deadline, reported as November 15.
Mumbai Indians must finalise their squad decisions before the mini auction, currently planned for December 16 in Goa.
Pollard and the franchise management will assess the available players and identify positions requiring improvement.
However, the departures of Malinga, Mhambrey and Hopkinson do not confirm any player release or trade.
There has also been no new announcement changing Hardik Pandya’s captaincy.
The final IPL 2027 released players list will determine which players enter the auction pool.
Mumbai’s remaining purse and open squad positions will become clearer after those decisions.
For the latest auction date, venue and player updates, see the IPL 2027 auction page.
Who Will Replace Lasith Malinga, Paras Mhambrey and Carl Hopkinson?
Mumbai Indians have not announced replacements for Lasith Malinga, Paras Mhambrey or Carl Hopkinson as of October 29, 2026.
Pollard remains the confirmed head coach.
The franchise must now decide who will take responsibility for specialist bowling and fielding preparation, along with the batting-coaching position left by Pollard’s promotion.
No candidate should be described as appointed until Mumbai Indians make an official announcement.
What Happens Next for Mumbai Indians?
Mumbai Indians have now confirmed four major departures from their previous coaching setup, including Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Paras Mhambrey and Carl Hopkinson.
Kieron Pollard has replaced Jayawardene as head coach, but the remaining specialist coaching positions are still awaiting announcements.
As of October 29, 2026, Malinga, Mhambrey and Hopkinson have officially left Mumbai Indians’ men’s coaching staff. Their replacements have not been named.
Completing the support staff will be an important next step as Pollard prepares MI for IPL 2027 and the upcoming mini auction.
