Mahela Jayawardene, the head coach of Mumbai Indians (MI), believes that the wealth of leadership experience in the dressing room will greatly benefit captain Hardik Pandya, especially in pressure situations during the Indian Premier League. With Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, both India’s T20 World Cup-winning captains in 2024 and 2026, respectively, along with other experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, and Mitchell Santner, Jayawardene feels that the leadership group provides invaluable support both on and off the field.
Jayawardene highlighted the conscious effort made by the franchise to build a core group over the years, which is now paying off. He emphasized the significant contribution of players like Rohit and Suryakumar, stating that Hardik is benefiting from their experience and ideas.
As an all-rounder, Hardik’s role on the team makes the support from experienced players even more crucial. Jayawardene noted that having players like Rohit and Suryakumar on the field is a massive advantage for Hardik, not only during matches but also off the field.
In conclusion, Jayawardene expressed pride in the core group that Mumbai Indians have built over the years and stressed the importance of having experienced players in the team. He believes that the leadership experience within the squad will greatly benefit Hardik Pandya as captain of MI in the upcoming IPL season. The article was published on March 28, 2026.
Follow Franchise Cricket for more IPL news.
