Ricky Ponting wanted to coach the Australian side and we had to respect his decision: Akash Ambani

IPL franchise Mumbai Indians has been one of the most consistent teams in the tournament for the last 9 years, winning the coveted title twice in 2013 and 2015 respectively. Over the years, the franchise owned by Mukesh Ambani and his family has chopped and changed with their support staffs and has replaced their head coaches almost each and every year.

While it was Shaun Pollock in one year, John Wright took over the reign in the next followed by current Indian coach Anil Kumble and Ricky Ponting last year. For this season, Mumbai has appointed former Sri Lanka great Mahela Jayawardena as their coach who was instrumental in picking up new Sri Lankan sensation Asela Gunaratne as their foreign recruit in the auctions yesterday.

Asked to explain the reason behind their regular chopping and changing of coaches, Akash Ambani, the son of Mukesh Ambani said that while Ponting wanted to coach the national side, Kumble, on the other hand, is the current coach of the Indian national team. “Ricky Ponting wanted to coach his national side (he’s involved with the Australian team presently) and so we had to respect that. And look where Anil bhai is (referring to Kumble being coach of the India team),” he said. Without a doubt, the franchise seems to the breeding ground for all future national coaches.

During the IPL Auction yesterday, Mumbai Indians bagged Karn Sharma for 3.2 cr, while Aussie pacer Mitchell Johnson was bagged for Rs. 2 crores. They also bought Karnataka all-rounder K Gowtham for 2 crores while Asela Gunaratne, Saurabh Tiwary & Nicolas Pooran fetched Rs. 30 lakh. Kulwant Khejroliya went for base-price of 10 lakh.

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After lacklustre performances in the opening two years of the tournament, Mumbai Indians finally made their mark in the 2010 season by playing a terrific brand of cricket throughout the tournament before eventually losing to Chennai Super Kings in the final. They won their opening title in 2013 and followed it up with one more in 2015 playing both the matches at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium.