Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indian’s first match of TATA IPL 2026 is just around the corner and we are ready to face Kolkata Knight Riders at our home venue- Wankhede Stadium. Ahead of the contest, our head coach- Mahela Jayawardene stepped into the spotlight on MI Charcha, and what followed was more than just a conversation, it was pure cricketing insights with a lot of warmth. 💙

Sharing his insights on seeing the growth of Hardik Pandya, the player to then becoming captain and now one of the best players in the world. Mahela said, “The first time I met Hardik was in 2017. Young, raw talent with a lot of energy and that is something I have admired in Hardik. Even today with that energy to play the game, he is something special. He is quite passionate about the game of cricket, talks a lot about it. I have been with MI for eight years and it is amazing to see his growth when it comes to leadership, maturity on the field and how he has evolved, probably one of the best all rounders in white ball cricket.” 💪😎

He further also opined on Hardik doing things differently that sets him apart from the rest, “When he started out, we had to pull him back a little because he was like a power house on the move…with the bat, ball and on the field. The younger Hardik’s work ethic was brilliant back then.”

“The injuries that he later had, took a toll on his body, as he was also playing test cricket. A lot of work load management had to happen. Now he understands this and we have a structured way of handling his work load. Managing a player once they get to that important stage in their career is important. His skill work and work ethic is brilliant even today…the training bit, working on his fitness during the season and off it too. It is good to see how he has evolved as a person and player.” 

Looking forward to that first game, Mahela spoke on getting that perfect eleven combination, “It is a healthy headache to have so many good options. We play different oppositions, conditions…Once we play in Mumbai, then we have 2 back-to-back away matches. We will need those options; squad depth is something that is very important for various reasons. It could be for injuries or different conditions… that is something that we always constantly think about.

“Having experience on the bench helps. Sometimes it is tough that we have amazing players sitting out, but that is what it is. That is part and parcel of franchise cricket. It is our job to create an atmosphere where everyone is happy and everyone plays for that one goal, that is for the team.” 💙🙌