The Great Blue Exodus

So it has come to this. Mahela Jayawardene, the man who once turned Mumbai Indians into a trophy-hoarding machine with the clinical efficiency of a Swiss watch, has mutually agreed to bring in a “fresh perspective.” That’s corporate for “we’ve decided the perspective of three IPL titles is looking a bit stale next to four wins and a ninth-place finish.” The announcement landed with all the drama of a polite email marked “FYI.” No dramatic press conference, no slammed doors, just the quiet...

min read

So it has come to this. Mahela Jayawardene, the man who once turned Mumbai Indians into a trophy-hoarding machine with the clinical efficiency of a Swiss watch, has mutually agreed to bring in a “fresh perspective.” That’s corporate for “we’ve decided the perspective of three IPL titles is looking a bit stale next to four wins and a ninth-place finish.” The announcement landed with all the drama of a polite email marked “FYI.” No dramatic press conference, no slammed doors, just the quiet understanding that the five-time champions have spent the last couple of seasons performing an extended interpretive dance of mediocrity. Let us pause and appreciate the comedy. Jayawardene returned in late 2024 like a beloved chef summoned back to a kitchen that had somehow managed to burn the water under Mark Boucher. The franchise needed stability. They needed the man who delivered titles in 2017, 2019 and 2020. What they got, after a respectable playoff run in 2025, was 2026: four wins, ten losses, and a dressing-room vibe that reportedly ranged from “mildly unsettled” to “someone please check if the oxygen is still working.” The 2026 campaign was a masterclass in how a team of superstars can collectively forget how to be a team. Jasprit Bumrah, the franchise’s eternal trump card, spent large portions of the season looking like a man who had misplaced his magic. Suryakumar Yadav, coming off an MVP-level 2025, produced the kind of numbers that make statisticians reach for the “are you sure this is the same player?” button. Hardik Pandya captained with the visible strain of a man trying to herd cats while the cats were busy arguing about the batting order. Injuries arrived with the reliability of the Mumbai monsoon. Home games at the Wankhede, once a fortress, turned into polite invitations for opposition sides to help themselves. Five home defeats. The fortress had become a rather expensive Airbnb with excellent sea views and no defence. And through it all, Mahela remained the picture of calm. The same calm that once orchestrated three title runs. The same calm that made owners and players trust him enough to bring him back after the global performance role. Only this time the calm looked less like strategic genius and more like the quiet resignation of a man watching a once-great recipe slowly curdle. For a franchise that once collected trophies the way other people collect stamps, finishing ninth is not a result. The satire writes itself. Mumbai Indians, the team that once redefined dominance, spent 2026 rediscovering the lower half of the table with the enthusiasm of a team that had never heard of their own history. They rotated players like a particularly chaotic game of musical chairs. Now the franchise wants a “fresh perspective.” One can only imagine the shortlist. Perhaps someone who has never won three titles with the same franchise and therefore brings the exciting novelty of not knowing what success looks like. Or maybe they will simply open the window and hope a new philosophy drifts in on the Arabian Sea breeze. The interviews are apparently happening soon. Somewhere, a hopeful coach is polishing their PowerPoint on “how to stop finishing ninth while fielding half the Indian T20 side.” Jayawardene’s departure ends more than a coaching stint. It closes a long chapter of association that stretched across two head-coach tenures and a global performance role. He leaves having delivered more silverware than most coaches will see in a lifetime, and having also supervised one of the more thorough dismantling of aura in recent IPL memory. The fans, of course, will do what fans do. Some will thank him for the glory years. Others will note that the second act ended with the team looking like it had been assembled by committee during a power cut. So, Mahela walks away, hands clean, record intact, reputation only mildly bruised by the latest chapter. Mumbai Indians will appoint someone new, promise a return to the glory days, and then spend the next auction trying to buy back the magic that used to arrive free with the blue jersey. The rest of the league will watch with the quiet satisfaction of people who have spent years hearing about the MI machine and have now watched it spend a season coughing politely into a handkerchief. (The writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

Why Women Are Better Investors Than Men

Kaustubh Kale

Mar 9, 2025

2 min read

Updated: Mar 10, 2025

As the world celebrated International Women's Day, discussions centered around women's achievements in various fields—business, leadership, science, and beyond. But one area where women consistently outperform men, yet receive little recognition, is investing.

Despite money management often being seen as a male-dominated field, women have quietly and consistently proven to be better investors than men. With patience, discipline, and a long-term mindset, women naturally possess qualities that make them superior money managers.

A Perfect Blend of Knowledge and Wealth

In Hindu mythology, Goddess Saraswati symbolizes knowledge, while Goddess Lakshmi represents wealth—two essential pillars of investing. The ability to manage wealth wisely stems from a deep understanding of financial principles, and this is where women excel. They take the time to learn, analyze, and make informed investment decisions rather than rushing into trends or speculation.

Why Women Make Better Investors

Several traits make women stand out as investors:

Patience and Long-Term Vision: Unlike men, who may be more prone to impulsive trading and get-rich-quick schemes, women tend to have a longer term mindset. Their ability to stay calm, especially during market fluctuations, leads to better returns over time.

Disciplined and Goal-Based: Women prioritize consistent savings and goal-based investing. This disciplined approach helps them build wealth steadily. Women naturally excel at budgeting, planning, and structuring investments to align with future goals, whether it’s children’s education, home buying, or retirement security. Their emotional connection with goals is what makes them stick to discipline.

Risk-Aware, Not Risk-Averse: Contrary to the stereotype, women are not afraid of risks—they are just more calculated about them, through appropriate asset allocation. Eventually, this approach ensures maximum returns with minimal risks.

Trust and Willingness to Learn: Women value education and expertise, making them more likely to seek guidance from a well-qualified financial advisor. Unlike men, who often overestimate their investing abilities, women approach financial decisions with a willingness to learn. Once they find a trusted expert, they follow sound advice instead of making emotional, short-term moves.

Women Leading the Financial World

These qualities are why many of the world’s leading financial institutions are now led by women. In India and abroad, we see prominent banks, asset management companies, and investment firms thriving under female leadership. Their ability to combine strategic thinking with emotional intelligence makes them exceptional at managing money—both at a personal and professional level.

Final Thoughts

With their trust in expert advice and a strong focus on financial education, more women should embrace their strengths and take control of their financial futures!