Mumbai Indians (MI) have started their IPL 2026 journey on a fine note, defeating the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium confidently. Can they convert this early momentum into their sixth IPL trophy-winning moment? The question lies in the franchise, which has 5 league trophies in its cabinet, and has experienced a lot of ups and downs in the past few seasons.
MI’s fifth and the last IPL glory came in 2020. Since then, the team has been struggling to maintain a consistent performance season by season. Despite multiple setbacks in a couple of seasons, the head coach of the team, Mahela Jayawardene, did not bother much about the past.
Will Mahela Jayawardane change the Mumbai Indians’ strategy in the IPL 2026?
In the last five years, the Mumbai Indians have made the playoffs only twice and finished at the bottom of the points table twice, in 2022 and 2024. Ahead of the Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals match, the head coach was asked whether he is disturbed by the team’s performance graph over the last few years.
Your daily dose of cricket!
The Sri Lankan cricket legend said in the press conference that with 10 teams, the tournament becomes more challenging. Despite the harder challenges, the team qualified for the playoffs twice in the last five years, which is a good sign for Jayawardane.
“10 teams make it an even harder competition. But I think in the last 5 years, we were in the playoffs 2 or 3 times, if I am not mistaken. So that means we had our opportunities in just that last bit.”
“I don’t know how to answer this properly. In a competition like this, you have to take one game at a time and go through the process. As a team, we know that we have done well consistently over a period of time,” the head coach of the Mumbai Indians told the reporters ahead of the MI vs DC match.
Mahela Jayawardene mentioned that while MI claimed five titles, some teams are yet to get their maiden trophy. The former cricketer confidently said that without making any jumps, the team should keep the trust in the process, and the result will come by itself.
Results will take care of themselves: Mumbai Indians head coach
“We just need to continue to trust that process and keep playing good cricket. And we will get there. And how we have been successful is by doing the same thing. So I don’t see why we need to do something different.”
“But as long as we keep pushing ourselves to the limit in every game and have the same attitude on and off the field to be a better team, a better franchise. I think the results will take care of themselves,” the coach said.
“Rather than putting ourselves under pressure at the beginning of the season. Saying we haven’t won it for 4 years. But some teams haven’t won it forever either. So we are not rubbing it in. But with all due respect, we just thought that we would trust our process. And work on ourselves on how we need to go about it,” he added further.
Which teams have never won a single IPL trophy yet?
It is worth noting that MI and Chennai Super Kings, both franchises, have 5 IPL titles each. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have won it three time and Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans all have won once.
In contrast, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants are yet to open their account in terms of IPL trophy victories. DC looked amazing last season, however, faltered towards the business end of the tournament.
Read More: Nikhil Chaudhary to replace Ben Duckett at Delhi Capitals? Hobart Hurricanes star joins IPL 2026