Mumbai Indians (MI) have shortlisted four candidates, including former Australia captain Aaron Finch and two former India internationals, for their vacant assistant coach position, according to The Times of India. Newly appointed head coach Kieron Pollard is involved in the selection process ahead of IPL 2027.
The five-time champions finished ninth in the 2026 season. They have reshaped their coaching staff ahead of the next campaign, appointing former West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard as head coach. The franchise last won the IPL title in 2020 and failed to qualify for the playoffs in two of the last three seasons.
Mumbai Indians Eye T Dilip for Fielding Coach Role
Alongside the search for an assistant coach, the franchise has identified T Dilip as a leading candidate for the fielding coach position. His appointment is expected to be finalized soon, subject to the completion of discussions between the two parties.
Lasith Malinga and Paras Mhambrey are set to continue in their respective bowling coach roles, providing stability to the team's bowling department for IPL 2027.
According to the report, two of the four assistant coach candidates are former India internationals, with one having previously played for the franchise. The shortlist also includes another experienced Australian T20 cricketer alongside Finch, giving Kieron Pollard several options.
Mumbai Indians have brought former Rajasthan Royals (RR) high-performance coach Steffan Jones into their setup as a bowling consultant for the franchise’s development programme. The 52-year-old Welsh coach will focus on developing young Indian bowlers and work alongside Zubin Bharucha.
Kieron Pollard Replaces Mahela Jayawardene as Mumbai Indians Head Coach
Kieron Pollard was appointed head coach on October 24, replacing Mahela Jayawardene. The former West Indies all-rounder represented Mumbai Indians from 2010 to 2022, playing 189 matches and scoring 3,412 runs at a strike rate above 147. He also took 69 wickets during his IPL career.
The new head coach faces several decisions beyond completing his coaching staff. The team must also address questions surrounding its captaincy and reports of a possible trade involving current skipper Hardik Pandya ahead of the player retention deadline.
The franchise is reportedly considering whether to back Tilak Varma for a leadership role or return to former captain Rohit Sharma. The management is expected to approach the decision carefully after the previous captaincy change, when Pandya replaced Rohit following his move from Gujarat Titans.
Mumbai Indians Look to End IPL Title Drought After Poor Run
Rohit Sharma led the team to all five of its IPL titles between 2013 and 2020. However, the franchise has struggled to reproduce that success in recent seasons and has qualified for the playoffs only twice since its last championship victory.
Under Pandya's captaincy over the previous three seasons, the side reached the playoffs once and finished ninth in 2026. The latest changes aim to improve results and restore consistency.
By appointing Kieron Pollard and strengthening the support staff, the franchise hopes to make better use of the former all-rounder's experience and knowledge of the team. The coaching appointments, along with decisions on captaincy and squad composition, will shape its preparations for IPL 2027.
