Defending champions Mumbai Indians have announced the list of five players they have retained for the upcoming 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Veteran pacer Jasprit Bumrah became the highest-paid player in the franchise's history with a whopping fee of Rs. 18 crore, followed by Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, who were retained for Rs. 16.35 crore each. The franchise also announced the reappointment of Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene as their head coach and confirmed that Pandya will continue to lead next season. With just one right-to-match option for an uncapped player, the team will enter the mega auction with a budget of Rs. 45 crore.
Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has been appointed as the new Head Coach of Mumbai Indians, replacing Mark Boucher. Jayawardene was previously the Head Coach of the franchise from 2017 to 2022, during which MI won three titles. He was serving as the Global Head of Cricket for MI before taking up the role of Head Coach again. Jayawardene's experience and leadership is expected to benefit the team and continue the legacy of the franchise.
After finishing last in IPL 2024, the Mumbai Indians have decided to bring back Mahela Jayawardene as their head coach for the 2025 season. In his previous stint with the franchise from 2017 to 2022, he successfully led the team to victory. Under his leadership, the team is hoping to see an improvement in their performance in the upcoming season after a disappointing season with Mark Boucher as the coach. Jayawardene will bring back his expertise and passion for the game, which is highly valued by the team’s owner, Akash Ambani.
Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene has been brought back as the head coach for Mumbai Indians, replacing South Africa's Mark Boucher. Jayawardene previously served as the head coach for the franchise from 2017 to 2022 before becoming the global head of performance for the MI franchise across the world. He brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and passion for the game, which will be beneficial for the five-time champions as they aim for another IPL title in 2025. Boucher, who helped MI win three titles during his tenure, will step down after two seasons and become an integral member of the MI family.
In the ongoing 2nd Test between England and Sri Lanka at Lord's, Joe Root has surpassed Alastair Cook's record of most runs for England against Sri Lanka in Tests. Root's exceptional form has allowed him to reach the milestone in just 16 matches, beating Cook's 16-Test record of 1290 runs against Sri Lanka. The overall record of scoring most runs between the two teams is still held by former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, but Root has moved up to the third position with his latest feat. With more matches still to be played, Root has a chance to further cement his position as England's leading scorer against Sri Lanka in Tests.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma is on the verge of surpassing Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene to become the second-highest run scorer in the history of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. He is also close to hitting 600 sixes in international cricket, a feat that no other player has achieved. With an impressive record and a personal connection to coach Ravi Shastri, Sharma is determined to lead India to victory in the upcoming T20 World Cup.