Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene applauded captain Hardik Pandya for his development in captaincy skills before the team’s first match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday as well.

“The first time I met Hardik was in 2017. Young, raw talent with a lot of energy, and that is something I have admired in Hardik. Even today, with that energy to play the game, he is something special. He is quite passionate about the game of cricket and talks a lot about it. I have been with MI for eight years, and it is amazing to see his growth when it comes to leadership, maturity on the field, and how he has evolved, probably into one of the best all-rounders in white-ball cricket,” Jayawardene said in a statement released on the Mumbai Indians website.

However, he further said that Hardik Pandya does things differently, that set him apart from the others as well.

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“When he started out, we had to pull him back a little because he was like a powerhouse on the move – with the bat, ball, and on the field. The younger Hardik’s work ethic was brilliant back then,” he stated again. “The injuries that he later had took a toll on his body, as he was also playing Test cricket. A lot of workload management had to happen. Now he understands this, and we have a structured way of handling his workload. Managing a player once they get to that important stage in their career is crucial. His skill work and work ethic are brilliant even today – the training part, working on his fitness during the season and off-season as well. It is good to see how he has evolved as a person and player.”

While talking about the season opener, Mahela Jayawardene opined on the challenge of selecting the perfect playing XI as well.

“It is a healthy headache to have so many good options. We play different oppositions and conditions. Once we play in Mumbai, then we have two back-to-back away matches. We will need those options. Squad depth is something that is very important for various reasons. It could be for injuries or different conditions – that is something that we constantly think about.

“Having experience on the bench helps. Sometimes it is tough that we have amazing players sitting out, but that is what it is. That is part and parcel of franchise cricket. It is our job to create an atmosphere where everyone is happy and plays for that one goal, which is the team,” Mahela Jayawardene concluded. “On Jassi (Jasprit Bumrah) – he’s back with the squad. He’s available to play. That’s it.”