Former Mumbai Indians fielding coach James Pamment has expressed surprise over Mahela Jayawardene stepping down as the franchise's head coach. He has also backed former MI star Kieron Pollard to take charge of the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions. Jayawardene recently stepped down after his second stint as Mumbai Indians head coach. During his first spell, from 2017 to 2022, he guided the franchise to three IPL titles. Pamment, who worked with Jayawardene during his eight-year association with MI, said he did not expect the decision.
Speaking to IANS, Pamment praised Jayawardene's commitment to the franchise and his role in developing young Indian players. "I was a little bit shocked actually when I saw at the weekend that Mahela had decided to step down. I enjoyed a lot of years working alongside Mahela," Pamment said. Pamment admitted that he was not aware of the reasons behind Jayawardene's decision but said the franchise's next move would be interesting to watch.
"Really, other than Kieron Pollard, I'm not sure who could take over. There's been lots of names mentioned, but for me, if Kieron feels he's ready to take it on, he'd be the man I'd give the job to," Pamment said. "There's a guy there who bleeds blue and gold," he added. The franchise will need to appoint a new head coach ahead of the IPL 2027 retention deadline and the mini auction scheduled for December 16 in Goa. Pamment also spoke about former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan, who has started his tenure as Chennai Super Kings head coach following Stephen Fleming's departure. "Retentions and squad building are really important. I guess they are your foundation for the season ahead," Pamment said.
He added that Zaheer's ability to bring people together could help him build a strong team, provided he surrounds himself with coaches who can support his approach and share their knowledge with the players. With Jayawardene's departure, Mumbai Indians face an important decision ahead of the next IPL season. Pollard has emerged as Pamment's preferred candidate, but the franchise's management will have the final say on who leads the team in IPL 2027.