Kieron Pollard will step aside as MI London head coach ahead of The Hundred 2027 after being named Mumbai Indians head coach for IPL 2027. The move leaves the franchise searching for a successor, while Surrey also face a coaching vacancy following Gareth Batty's exit.
Pollard's Move: What Has Changed
Pollard has replaced Mahela Jayawardene as Mumbai Indians head coach. Jayawardene left the position in October 2026.
According to a Cricinfo report, Pollard will step away from his MI London duties mainly to get some time off. He led the side during The Hundred 2026.
Key coaching changes at a glance| Person | Previous Role | Status |
|---|
| Kieron Pollard | MI London head coach | Named Mumbai Indians head coach; leaving MI London |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Mumbai Indians head coach | Left in October 2026 |
| Gareth Batty | Surrey men's head coach | Stepped down; joined CSK as assistant coach |
Pollard's History With Mumbai Indians
Pollard played 189 IPL matches for Mumbai Indians across 13 seasons. That long association makes the head coach appointment a natural continuation of his career with the franchise.
His move from player to head coach is also a rare case of a long-serving overseas all-rounder taking the top job at the same franchise.
MI London's 2026 Season in Numbers
MI London finished fourth in The Hundred 2026 under Pollard, with Sam Curran as captain. They ended the league phase level on points with two rivals.
A weaker net run rate pushed them out of the knockout stages. The margin shows how small the gap was between qualifying and missing out.
MI London 2026 snapshot| Team | Head Coach | Captain | Final Position | Outcome |
|---|
| MI London (men) | Kieron Pollard | Sam Curran | 4th | Missed knockouts on net run rate |
| MI London (women) | Lisa Keightley (future unclear) | Not stated | Last | 1 win in 8 matches |
The Women's Team Also Struggled
The MI London women's side finished at the bottom of the table. They won one of their eight matches, a win rate of 12.5 percent.
It is unclear whether Lisa Keightley will continue as head coach. She recently left her WPL job at MI.
Surrey and MI London Face a Double Vacancy
Gareth Batty has stepped down as Surrey men's head coach after joining Chennai Super Kings as an assistant coach for IPL 2027. He had earlier worked as one of Pollard's assistants at MI London.
Surrey co-owns the Hundred franchise with Reliance Industries Limited. The club is expected to advertise for a new head coach later this year.
Possible Candidates
The club is likely to let the new appointee combine county duties with work at MI London. Former assistant coach Azhar Mahmood and current bowling coach Jade Dernbach are among the possible candidates.
Linking the two roles would give the franchise continuity across the county and Hundred setups.
Hundred 2027 Squad Rule Changes
The Hundred's player retention window opened last week and will stay open until mid-January. The rules for 2027 change squad composition in two ways.
The Hundred 2027 squad rules| Rule | Limit |
|---|
| Players retained from 2026 squad (same price point) | Up to 16 |
| Overseas players in squad | Up to 5 |
| Overseas players in playing XI | Up to 4 |
| Retention window closes | Mid-January |
What This Means for MI London
A new head coach will inherit a retention process already under way. With up to 16 players retainable, continuity in the squad core is possible even if the coaching staff changes.
The fifth overseas slot adds squad depth, but only four overseas players can start. The next coach will need to balance selection carefully.
Analytical Outlook
MI London missed the knockouts on net run rate despite equal points, so small margins matter. The next appointment will be judged on whether it can close that gap.
Both Pollard and Batty are moving into IPL roles. That shows how closely franchise cricket networks are connected across leagues.