Mumbai Indians announced on Thursday 29 October 2026 that Lasith Malinga, Paras Mhambrey and Carl Hopkinson will leave the men's team coaching set-up ahead of the IPL 2027 season. The five-time IPL champions thanked the trio for their commitment and service, saying their contributions and the relationships they built "will always be part of our journey". The franchise did not publicly state reasons for the departures. The announcement continues a wider overhaul of the backroom staff, coming nearly two weeks after former captain Kieron Pollard replaced Mahela Jayawardene as head coach following a disappointing 2026 campaign in which Mumbai finished ninth and missed the playoffs.

Mumbai Indians confirm three coaching departures

The headline departure is Malinga, one of the most recognisable figures in the franchise's history. The former Sri Lanka fast bowler took 170 wickets in 122 appearances for Mumbai between 2009 and 2019, spearheading the bowling attack in four IPL title wins and the 2011 Champions League Twenty20 triumph. After retiring in 2021, he returned as a mentor and then as fast-bowling coach ahead of IPL 2024, taking over from Shane Bond.

Malinga's long Mumbai story ends

Paras Mhambrey, the former India pacer, served Mumbai across two spells, first from 2010 to 2017 and again from 2024, and was also India's bowling coach from 2021 to 2024. The franchise credited him with developing and nurturing its bowling talent. Carl Hopkinson joined ahead of the 2025 season as fielding coach, bringing international experience from his time with the England men's team. With Pollard now leading a reshaped coaching group, Mumbai's rebuild ahead of the IPL 2027 mini-auction is firmly under way, and attention will turn to who fills the bowling and fielding roles before the new season.

Mhambrey and Hopkinson also move on

Sources: Reuters, Mumbai Indians (official statement).