Harbhajan slams MI support staff after Qualifier 2 loss against PBKS: 'Too much involvement from outside'

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02-06-2025

Spin legend Harbhajan Singh, who had won three titles with Mumbai Indians from 2008 to 2017, slammed the Mahela Jayawardene-led support staff for excessive interference in their Qualifier 2 meeting with Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad, which they ended up losing by five wickets. read more
Former India and Mumbai Indians off-spinner Harbhajan Singh directed his ire towards the Mahela Jayawardene-led support staff following the Hardik Pandya-led side's five-wicket defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 of the 2025 Indian Premier League. PTI
Indian spin legend Harbhajan Singh has slammed the Mumbai Indians team support staff, including head coach Mahela Jayawardene, for 'interfering' after the five-time champions bowed out of the 2025 Indian Premier League with a five-wicket defeat against Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 on Sunday.
PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer producing a chasing masterclass at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium to propel his team into an IPL final for the first time in 11 years, setting up a date with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the summit clash at the same venue on Tuesday.
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MI, on the other hand, have now lost the penultimate match of the season for the second time in three years, having lost to Gujarat Titans at the same venue in 2023, and have not reached an IPL final since they won their fifth title in 2020.
'Coaches are telling a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah what to do'
In a video posted on his YouTube channel after Qualifier 2, Harbhajan – who had represented Mumbai Indians from the inaugural season in 2008 to 2017 and won three titles with them – directed his ire at the Jayawardene-led MI support staff for their behaviour during the game, stating that the team's performance was affected by 'too much involvement from the outside'.
'Look at the Mumbai Indians dugout. When they were leaking runs, there was too much involvement from the outside,' Harbhajan said in the video.
'The coaches are telling a bowler like Jasprit 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 the player's spirit,' he added.
Harbhajan added that skipper Pandya, former captain Rohit Sharma, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and others know what it takes to win matches and titles and urged the franchise to 'let them do what they need to do' instead of getting into micromanagement.
'Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, they are all 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,' 'Bhajji' added in the video.
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Sri Lankan batting legend and former captain Jayawardene had coached MI for six seasons from 2017 to 2022, helping them win three titles during this period, and returned to the franchise ahead of the 18th season, replacing legendary South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher who had occupied the role for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.