Mumbai Indians’ exit from IPL 2025 has sparked debate after Harbhajan Singh criticized Lasith Malinga and Mahela Jayawardene for excessive involvement from the dugout during the Qualifier 2 match against Punjab Kings at Ahmedabad.
The former India off-spinner accused the duo of “breaking the spirit” of MI players, especially when they were repeatedly seen instructing top names like Jasprit Bumrah mid-game.
‘Let Players Like Bumrah and Rohit Be’
Harbhajan emphasized that senior players like Rohit Sharma, Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya know how to handle pressure and should be trusted more by the coaching staff.
“Coaches should guide, not interfere too much,” he said on his YouTube channel. He added that constantly signalling and micromanaging from the dugout sends the wrong message and builds nervousness rather than confidence.
A recent moment also went viral when Bumrah was seen ignoring Jayawardene’s instructions and asked him to calm down.
Mumbai Indians Showed Grit This Season
Despite the criticism, Mumbai Indians had a solid comeback season. After finishing last in 2024 and starting this season with five losses in six games, MI won six in a row, reached the Playoffs, and beat Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator.
But PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer’s 87* and fielding lapses from MI—like Trent Boult’s dropped catch—ended their campaign in Qualifier 2.
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