Mumbai Indians Head Coach Mahela Jayawardene recently celebrated the champions of the 6th edition of the MI Junior Cricket Tournament, congratulating Modern English School (Chembur), led by skipper Swaraa Jadhav, for their unbeaten run and title triumph, along with the other participants, on March 17, 2026.
Topping the points table with 6 points from 3 games, the Chembur side dominated the knockouts: they smashed 194/6 in 20 overs to crush Shardashram Vidyamandir International School (Dadar) by 52 runs in the semi-final, then chased 132/8 set by Parag English School with a composed 135/6 in 17.2 overs (Ruth Saluja 40, Tanvi Rane 31*; Rianna Nikhil 3/23, Nysa Bhalerao 2/11) in the final, winning by 4 wickets after opting to field first. As excitement builds for the 19th edition of the Tata IPL starting March 28, Jayawardene’s interview with Female Cricket offers a blueprint for nurturing the next generation of women’s cricket stars.
Speaking exclusively to Vishal Yadav (Founder and CEO of Female Cricket), Jayawardene zeroed in on grassroots gaps, emphasising competitive opportunities for girls.
“I think tournaments as well. I think practices they will have, but I think competitive tournaments for them to be part of, because I know that boys are having a lot more tournaments than the girls,” he said. “So, if we can get more repetition, tournaments, so that they can be competitive, they learn faster in that environment.”
He urged deeper engagement: “And to talk cricket with them as well, they need to understand the game of cricket and then start thinking about how they can be better in two years or three years.”
Spotting readiness in 14- to 16-year-olds, Jayawardene prioritises joy over raw talent. “I always look at whether they’re enjoying the game. As long as they’re having fun and people are not pushing them to just play cricket, but on their own, they want to come and play and enjoy. Because I know that that person in another five or ten years will be a difference maker,” he shared. This philosophy aligns perfectly with the MI Juniors’ spirit, where Swaraa Jadhav’s team exemplified fun-fueled dominance.
Beyond trophies, Jayawardene defines success through character.
“As long as we teach them the right values, the brand that we are playing with in Mumbai. To take wins and losses in the right spirit, be humble, and compete with the right spirit,” he explained. “I think that’s a massive structure that we’ve set up here, that’s a legacy that we could leave with them.”
Reflecting personally, he wouldn’t tweak his own path, “I enjoyed my cricket when I was a 15-year-old. I was playing with my friends at the school level, just trying to win a match for my school. I think that simple goals have got me to where I am, so I wouldn’t change that.”
Mahela Jayawardene’s words resonate among the group of youngsters, promising more high-stakes battles and life lessons for Mumbai’s budding talents in the upcoming seasons of the MI Junior tournaments. The Mumbai Indians men, led by Hardik Pandya, gear up for the upcoming 19th edition of the IPL ahead of their campaign opener against the Kolkata Knight Riders on 29th March 2026 from 7:30 PM IST at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
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