BREAKING: Mumbai Indians add T Dilip, former players to coaching staff for IPL 2027

The Mumbai Indians on Friday, October 30, 2026, confirmed that T Dilip will be their fielding coach for IPL 2027, with Dhawal Kulkarni appointed development bowling coach and Mitchell McClenaghan returning as bowling coach, all under new head Kieron Pollard.

The appointments came a day after MI announced that Lasith Malinga, Paras Mhambrey and Carl Hopkinson were leaving the men’s setup. McClenaghan takes over Malinga’s bowling brief, Dilip replaces Hopkinson, and Kulkarni fills a year-round development role centered on the franchise’s young Indian bowlers.

“They will join Head Coach Kieron Pollard as part of a new-look coaching group that brings together a strong understanding of the Mumbai Indians culture, extensive international experience and a shared commitment to developing talent and delivering success,” the franchise said in its release.

Robin Uthappa was named batting coach in the same announcement, taking over duties Pollard handled for four seasons before he replaced head coach Mahela Jayawardene.

The reshuffle follows a flat IPL 2026, in which the Mumbai Indians won just four of 14 matches and finished ninth. The five-time champions have not reached a final since their 2020 title. Retention and release lists are due by November 15, with the mini auction in Goa on December 16.

T Dilip’s achievements and Mumbai Indians playing careers of Kulkarni & McClenaghan

T Dilip worked as India's men's fielding coach from November 2021 through the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup wins, the 2025 Champions Trophy and Asia Cup titles in 2023 and 2025. He also has runner-up medals of the 2023 ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship. His fielding medal, introduced during the 2023 World Cup, turned the post-match award into a dressing room ritual and pushed players to value quieter contributions on the field. His contract was not renewed in 2026 and Subhadeep Ghosh replaced him.

Mitchell McClenaghan’s case rests on numbers as much as familiarity. The former New Zealand left-arm pacer took 71 wickets in 56 IPL matches, all for MI between 2015 and 2019, at 8.49 an over with a best of 4 for 21. He collected 18 wickets in 12 games in 2015 and 19 in 14 in 2017, and was part of the squad for all four of Mumbai Indians' title wins in that span. The 40-year-old's last appearance came in 2019.

Dhawal Kulkarni played 92 IPL matches and took 86 wickets across spells with MI, Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Lions. In MI’s 2013 title season, the former India seamer claimed eight wickets in six matches at 18.88, with a best of 3 for 19. Both Kulkarni and McClenaghan were part of the Mumbai Indians squad that won their last title in 2020.

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