Published on: Oct 30, 2026 1:35 pm IST|Updated on: Oct 30, 2026 1:35 pm IST
Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians have made a significant overhaul in their coaching setup. After parting ways with Mahela Jayawardene as the head coach and appointing Kieron Pollard in Mahela’s role, the owners have now appointed former Indian batter Robin Uthappa and former Indian national team fielding coach T Dilip to their newly restructured coaching panel.
Along with Robin Uthappa and T Dilip, Mumbai Indians have also inducted former franchise stars Dhawal Kulkarni and Mitchell McClenaghan into their revamped coaching staff ahead of IPL 2027.
Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa, who kicked off his IPL career in 2008 with the Mumbai Indians, has been appointed as their new batting coach. Having claimed the coveted Orange Cap during his playing days and featured prominently across multiple championship-winning setups, Uthappa’s primary focus will involve refining MI’s top-order intent, developing power-hitting strategies during the middle overs, and mentoring the squad’s emerging Indian batters.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by IndiaFantasy (@indiafantasy)
A post shared by IndiaFantasy (@indiafantasy)
His close familiarity with Indian domestic circuits and dynamic approach to white-ball pacing make him an ideal fit to work alongside Head Coach Kieron Pollard. This would be Uthappa’s maiden coaching stint in the Indian Premier League.
Former Indian fielding coach T Dilip has been brought aboard to lead Mumbai’s fielding department. Known for his motivational impact inside the dressing room and for helping create a familiar environment. Dilip earned widespread acclaim during his tenure with the national team for introducing innovative fielding drills, promoting ground mobility, and pioneering the popular “Best Fielder” medal tradition inside the Indian dressing room.
Taking over the role from Carl Hopkinson, T. Dilip will be focusing on maintaining integrity within the Mumbai Indians’ setup and restoring high-intensity athletic standards and sharp ground fielding, which have traditionally formed the backbone of Mumbai Indians’ successful IPL campaigns over the years.
Former New Zealand left-arm pacer Mitchell McClenaghan has been appointed Mumbai Indians’ new bowling coach. Mitchell takes over from the legendary MI and Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga. Known for his aggressive seam bowling and for playing a key role in helping MI lift the coveted IPL trophy in 2015, 2017, and 2019, McClenaghan will focus on tactical execution and death-bowling plans for the pace battery. During his playing days, Mitchell McClenaghan represented only one team in the IPL, i.e., the Mumbai Indians, from 2015 to 2019.
Assisting Mitchell McClenaghan would be former Indian pacer and domestic veteran Dhawal Kulkarni. The former Mumbai fast bowler, who represented MI in multiple stints as an active player, joins the backroom team to work closely with the domestic pace pool.
The 37-year-old has represented multiple IPL franchises in his playing days, including Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, and Rajasthan Royals. Kulkarni’s deep knowledge of Indian domestic circuits will aid in talent identification, developmental camp monitoring, and skill refinement for younger Indian seamers.
A new look MI backroom support staff ahead of IPL 2027, led by Kieron Pollard, will work cohesively to get the best out of the players and help them in a direction to claim the IPL title for a record 6th time.