The Mumbai Indians have announced a significant addition to their backroom staff for IPL 2025, bringing in English fielding coach Carl Hopkinson. The move comes as the franchise aims to bounce back after a disappointing season and return to its winning ways.
Hopkinson joins a revamped coaching setup led by Mahela Jayawardene, who returns as head coach. The Sri Lankan legend, who guided Mumbai to three IPL titles in his previous stint, is stepping back into the role to help the team reset following their last-place finish in the previous season.
A seasoned and successful coach, Hopkinson brings a wealth of experience from his time with the England men’s white-ball team, where he played a key role in their ODI and T20 dominance over the past decade. His tenure included England’s historic 2019 ODI World Cup win and their T20 World Cup triumph in 2022.
Coaching Shake-Up for a Fresh Start
Hopkinson replaces James Pamment, who has been part of the Mumbai Indians’ coaching staff since 2018, contributing to their back-to-back title wins in 2019 and 2020. However, with a string of underwhelming performances between 2022 and 2024, Pamment, along with head coach Mark Boucher, has been let go.
Jayawardene is expected to retain Mumbai icons Keiron Pollard as batting coach and Lasith Malinga as bowling coach, ensuring continuity while injecting new energy into the team’s leadership.
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A Solid Core for 2025
Mumbai Indians are heading into the new season with a strong core group led by Hardik Pandya. The team boasts Indian cricket superstars like Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and rising talent Tilak Varma. They’ve also bolstered their squad with key overseas players, including Will Jacks and Trent Boult, while planning for the future with the addition of Afghan mystery spinner Allah Ghazanfar.
With this blend of seasoned stars, exciting newcomers, and an experienced coaching team, the Mumbai Indians are set for a fresh start as they aim to reclaim their spot at the top of the IPL.
