Mumbai Indians (MI) have appointed Mitchell McClenaghan as their bowling coach, T. Dilip as fielding coach and Dhawal Kulkarni as development bowling coach ahead of the IPL 2027 season. The franchise announced the appointments as part of a revamped coaching group led by head coach Kieron Pollard.
MI have also appointed Robin Uthappa as their new batting coach. Uthappa, McClenaghan, and Kulkarni have previously represented Mumbai as players, while Pollard's association with the franchise spans 16 years. The group will focus on player development and helping the team end its trophy drought.
MI Officially Announce New Coaching Staff for IPL 2027, Mitchell McClenaghan returns to MI as bowling coach
Mumbai Indians have appointed Mitchell McClenaghan as bowling coach, T. Dilip as fielding coach and Dhawal Kulkarni as development bowling coach ahead of IPL 2027. The trio will join head coach Kieron Pollard and batting coach Robin Uthappa.
McClenaghan and Kulkarni return to the franchise after representing Mumbai Indians as players. The former was part of four IPL-winning campaigns, while Kulkarni helped the team win two titles.
Dilip, meanwhile, joins after serving on the Indian men's team coaching staff during its 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup triumphs and 2025 Champions Trophy victory. The appointments bring together experience in international cricket, franchise cricket and player development.
Mitchell McClenaghan and Dhawal Kulkarni's IPL Record and Coaching Experience
Mitchell McClenaghan represented Mumbai Indians from 2015 to 2020 and played a key role in four IPL title-winning campaigns in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. He picked up 71 wickets in 56 IPL matches at an economy rate of 8.50, with best figures of 4/21. In 2017, he claimed 19 wickets in 14 matches.
The New Zealand left-arm pacer also brings coaching experience from the Mumbai Indians franchise network. He served as bowling coach of MI Emirates during the 2024 ILT20 season, helping the team win the title, before taking up the same role with MI Cape Town for SA20 2025.
He has also worked with Auckland Cricket as an assistant coach and Plunket Shield format coach. His experience across T20 leagues and domestic cricket will help him guide Mumbai Indians' bowling attack.
Dhawal Kulkarni represented Mumbai Indians in two spells, from 2008 to 2013 and 2020 to 2021. He was part of the franchise's IPL title-winning campaigns in 2013 and 2020.
Across his IPL career, the right-arm medium pacer took 86 wickets in 92 matches at an economy rate of 8.31, with best figures of 4/14. He also claimed 36 wickets in 33 matches during his first spell with Mumbai Indians.
Kulkarni moved into coaching after retiring from professional cricket. The Mumbai Cricket Association appointed him as the senior men's team's bowling mentor for the 2024-25 season, and he continued as Mumbai's bowling coach in 2025.
Mumbai Indians Coaching Staff for IPL 2027
Head Coach: Kieron Pollard
Batting Coach: Robin Uthappa
Bowling Coach: Mitchell McClenaghan
Fielding Coach: T. Dilip
Development Bowling Coach: Dhawal Kulkarni
