Kieron Pollard is set to leave his position as MI London‘s Men’s Head Coach ahead of the 2027 Hundred season following his appointment to lead Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), according to a report by Cricinfo‘s Matt Roller.
The former West Indies Captain is expected to step away primarily to take some time off, ending his involvement with the London franchise after a single campaign. His departure will leave MI London seeking a replacement as the club prepares for next year’s competition.
Pollard takes charge of Mumbai Indians
Pollard’s new responsibilities at Mumbai Indians mark a return to a leading role at the franchise where he spent much of his playing career.
He has succeeded Mahela Jayawardene, who departed as Head Coach in October, having previously worked as Mumbai Indians’ Batting Coach.
The appointment builds on Pollard’s longstanding relationship with the IPL franchise, for whom he played 189 matches across 13 seasons.
In an official statement following his appointment, Mumbai Indians Head Coach Kieron Pollard said: “It is an honour to take on the role of Head Coach of Mumbai Indians. MI has been a huge part of my life and career, and the bond I share with this team, the players and the Paltan means a great deal to me. Having experienced this journey as a player and then as a coach, I understand what Mumbai Indians stands for and the responsibility that comes with representing the Blue and Gold. I am grateful to Mrs Nita Ambani, Akash Ambani and the entire MI family for their trust in me. I look forward to working closely with the players and support staff, building on the team’s legacy, helping our talent grow and giving the Paltan many more reasons to celebrate.”
MI London prepares for coaching change
Pollard’s sole season in charge of MI London ended with the franchise narrowly missing the Hundred knockout stages in 2026.
Led on the field by Captain Sam Curran, the team finished fourth, level on points with Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds but eliminated because of an inferior net run-rate.
His impending exit comes amid other coaching changes at The Oval, where MI London share a home ground with Surrey.
Surrey, which co-owns MI London alongside Reliance Industries Limited, is also searching for a new Men’s Head Coach following Gareth Batty’s departure to become an Assistant Coach at Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Batty had worked alongside Pollard as an Assistant Coach at MI London, leaving both organisations facing changes to their coaching arrangements.
Surrey are expected to advertise their vacancy later this year and could permit the successful candidate to combine county duties with a role in The Hundred. Former Assistant Coach Azhar Mahmood and current Bowling Coach Jade Dernbach are among the potential candidates.
Meanwhile, MI London also face uncertainty over their women’s coaching position. Lisa Keightley’s return as Head Coach for 2027 remains undecided following her departure from Mumbai Indians’ Women’s Premier League (WPL) setup. MI London’s women’s team finished bottom of the Hundred standings in 2026, winning one of eight matches.
Pollard’s expected departure leaves MI London with a Men’s Head Coach vacancy ahead of the 2027 season, while his next coaching assignment will be at Mumbai Indians.
