Kieron Pollard Set to Leave MI London After Taking Over as Mumbai Indians Head Coach

Big change is coming to MI London. Kieron Pollard, fresh off his promotion to Mumbai Indians head coach for IPL 2027, is set to step away from his Hundred role. The franchise now needs a new leader, and Surrey face a similar search.

Pollard Steps Aside From MI London

MI London will have a new head coach for The Hundred 2027. Pollard led the side in 2026 but is expected to take a break from his MI London duties after the Mumbai Indians promotion.

He replaces Mahela Jayawardene at Mumbai Indians. The Sri Lankan great left the position in October 2026.

“Pollard will step aside from his duties with MI London ahead of the 2027 Hundred season primarily to get some time off.” – Cricinfo

The move closes a short but eventful chapter with the London franchise and opens a major new one in the IPL.

A Long Mumbai Indians Connection

The West Indies all-rounder is no stranger to the MI setup. He played 189 IPL matches for Mumbai Indians across 13 seasons.

That deep familiarity with the franchise culture clearly counted in his favour for the top job.

MI London’s 2026 Season: So Close, Yet So Far

Sam Curran captained MI London in 2026 under Pollard. The team finished fourth in the competition but still missed the knockout stages.

They ended the league phase level on points with Manchester United and Sunrisers. A weaker net run-rate was the difference, and it cost them a place in the knockouts.

It was a painfully fine margin, and it makes the leadership change even more notable.

Women’s Team Also Struggled

The women’s side had a tougher campaign, finishing bottom of the table. They won just one of their eight matches.

It remains unclear whether Lisa Keightley will continue as head coach next season. She left her WPL job at Mumbai Indians earlier.

Double Coaching Blow for MI London and Surrey

Pollard’s exit is not the only change. Surrey men’s head coach Gareth Batty has also stepped down after joining Chennai Super Kings as an assistant coach ahead of IPL 2027.

Batty had previously worked as one of Pollard’s assistant coaches at MI London. That leaves two top coaching positions to fill across the two connected setups.

Who Could Replace Batty?

Surrey co-own the Hundred franchise with Reliance Industries Limited. The club is expected to advertise for a new head coach later this year.

The selected coach is likely to be allowed to work with MI London in The Hundred alongside county duties. Former assistant coach Azhar Mahmood and current bowling coach Jade Dernbach are among the possible candidates.

The Hundred Announces Squad Rule Changes for 2027

The Hundred’s player retention window opened last week and will stay open until mid-January. Teams can retain up to 16 players from their 2026 squads at the same price point.

Squads can also include five overseas players next season. Only four overseas players can feature in the playing XI for any match.

Key Numbers at a Glance

What Comes Next for MI London?

The franchise has a busy winter ahead. A new men’s head coach must be found, the women’s coaching situation needs clarity, and the retention window is already open.

With Pollard heading into a high-profile IPL role and Batty joining CSK, the Mumbai-Surrey network is entering a period of real transition.

MI London were a net run-rate margin away from the knockouts in 2026. The next appointment will be central to turning that near miss into a real push in 2027.