Jayawardene, Malinga take the heat after MI exit IPL 2025

There are multiple aspects at play when a five-time champion team fumbles a crucial thriller. Mumbai Indians faced their fair share of hiccups against Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2. Despite mounting a substantially strong defence of 203 runs, MI let the threads be pulled by PBKS in the chase. Skipper Hardik Pandya has been scrutinised for messing up the bowling rotation against the in-form PBKS captain, Shreyas Iyer. Iyer's unbeaten 87-run knock and the rare wicketless spell of Jasprit Bumrah have emerged as the defining moments from the PBKS vs MI IPL 2025 Qualifier. However, former MI player Harbhajan Singh has presented a new perspective that possibly dealt a blow to MI's chances in Ahmedabad.

Harbhajan Singh takes aim at Jayawardene and Malinga after MI bow out of IPL 2025 with a defeat in Qualifier 2

The spotlight has turned toward Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga for their nagging demeanor in the MI dugout during the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 clash against Punjab Kings. In a thrilling encounter, PBKS chased down a challenging 203-run target with five wickets in hand, powered by the masterclass of skipper Shreyas Iyer. The captain turned the hero with an unbeaten 87-run knock, leading Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 Final where RCB awaits them.

As this season guarantees a new IPL champion, the focus also shifted to the missed opportunity of Mumbai Indians. The five-time winners had their eyes set on a record sixth title, but several factors contributed to their exit. Among those, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh pointed to what he believes was a critical misstep, the over-involvement of the coaching staff during the game. According to Harbhajan, the constant stream of instructions from head coach Jayawardene and bowling coach Malinga disrupted the flow rather than reinforcing it.

"Look at the Mumbai Indians dugout. When they were leaking runs, there was way too much involvement from the outside. Coaches are telling a bowler like Bumrah what to do and what not. A dressing room needs to remain calm and composed. Coaches should only give advice. Don’t show desperation. So somewhere I felt that when this happens way too much, it breaks their spirit," Harbhajan said.

While Malinga was frequently seen conversing with the players, it was Jayawardene’s animated presence that drew the most attention. His reactions intensified whenever MI found themselves in tight situations. A similar incident from the Eliminator against Gujarat Titans also went viral where a clip showed Jayawardene attempting to instruct Jasprit Bumrah mid-match, only for the senior pacer to signal him to relax and focus on the game. Harbhajan cautioned that when a team comprises seasoned campaigners and serial winners, sometimes it’s wiser to trust them and let them lead on the field without micromanagement.

"Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, these are big players. And when they are playing, let them do what they need to do to get the right result for the team. They have won many trophies together. They needed to be shown a lot more faith, but the coaching staff time and again was interfering and gesturing with their hands," added Harbhajan.