The (MI) have announced a significant overhaul of their coaching staff ahead of the IPL 2027 season.
On Friday, the franchise appointed as , Mitchell McClenaghan as bowling coach, T. Dilip as fielding coach, and Dhawal Kulkarni as development bowling coach.
All four coaches have a history with MI, having played for the team in previous seasons. The franchise welcomed McClenaghan back, stating on X, “We’ve got Mitch back. A fan favorite who wore the MI badge and embodied the MI spirit. Welcome home, Mitchell McClenaghan.”
McClenaghan, a left-arm fast bowler from New Zealand, played 56 matches for MI from 2015 to 2019, taking 71 wickets. During his tenure, the team clinched the IPL title in 2015, 2017, and 2019.
T. Dilip, previously the fielding coach for the Indian national team, has been appointed as MI’s fielding coach. The franchise highlighted his past achievements, saying, “From three ICC titles with India to unforgettable moments at medal ceremonies, T. Dilip has won fans’ hearts with his energy and passion. Now, he brings that same enthusiasm to our team as fielding coach.”
Dhawal Kulkarni, a former fast bowler, has been named development bowling coach. The team expressed their excitement about Kulkarni’s return, saying, “Welcome back, Dhawal Kulkarni, a local hero and a veteran of our domestic team.”
Kulkarni was part of MI from 2007 to 2013 and again from 2020 to 2021, taking 36 wickets in 35 matches. He has also played for Gujarat Lions and Rajasthan Royals.
Robin Uthappa, who was a member of the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup in 2007, has been appointed as batting coach. Uthappa began his IPL career with MI in 2008 and is regarded as one of the league’s most successful batsmen. He played a crucial role in leading Kolkata Knight Riders to victory in 2014 and was part of the Chennai Super Kings team that won the league in 2021.
Between 2008 and 2022, Uthappa played for several franchises, including MI, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors India, KKR, Rajasthan Royals, and CSK. He amassed 4,952 runs in 197 innings across 205 matches, including 27 half-centuries.
With the appointments of McClenaghan, Dilip, Kulkarni, and Uthappa, the Mumbai Indians have completed their coaching setup for IPL 2027, marking a fresh start for the team. Notably, they recently appointed Kieron Pollard as head coach. Pollard was associated with MI as a player from 2010 to 2022 and served as batting coach until 2026.