Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mahela Jayawardene has expressed his unwavering support for the senior players in the team, ruling out significant changes to the playing XI despite a challenging start to the IPL 2025 season. MI, a five-time IPL champion, has faced four defeats in their first five matches, leaving them eighth on the points table.
Speaking after MI’s recent 12-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium, Jayawardene emphasized the importance of experience in overcoming tough situations. “I still back the senior pros and all the guys I put out there. They have the skill. It’s just that we need to be a bit more ruthless,” he stated, acknowledging the team’s need to improve discipline during critical moments of the game.
Jayawardene also highlighted the team’s struggles in the powerplay, both with the bat and ball, as a key area for improvement. “In the last few games, we were leaking too many runs with the ball in the powerplay, and we’re not getting the starts we need with the bat,” he noted. Despite these challenges, the coach expressed confidence in the ability of experienced players like Rohit Sharma to bounce back and deliver impactful performances.
While MI’s top order, including Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, has yet to find consistent form, Jayawardene believes that introducing fresh faces might not be the solution. “Sometimes a fresh face coming into this kind of situation might be even tougher for that player without the experience,” he explained.
As MI looks to turn their season around, Jayawardene remains optimistic about the team’s potential. “With the talent that we have, we know we are always in the game. We just need to be patient and focus on getting the group together,” he concluded.
The Mumbai Indians will aim to regroup and address their shortcomings as they prepare for their upcoming matches in the tournament. Fans will be hoping for a resurgence from the team that has historically been one of the most successful franchises in IPL history.
