Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians have appointed former Rajasthan Royals official Zubin Bharucha as their new Director of Performance.
The 56-year-old brings extensive experience in Indian franchise cricket and is expected to play a key role in improving Mumbai Indians’ performance setup ahead of the upcoming IPL season.
Bharucha Returns to the IPL Spotlight
Bharucha previously spent several years with Rajasthan Royals, initially serving as the team’s director from 2008 to 2015.
Following the franchise’s two-year suspension from the IPL, he returned to Rajasthan Royals in 2018 as their Director of Cricket Operations. He remained in that position until 2025, apart from a brief spell with Delhi Daredevils.
During his time with Rajasthan, Bharucha became closely associated with the development of young Indian talent.
He played a role in the progression of players including Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel and teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
His experience in identifying and nurturing emerging players is expected to be particularly valuable to Mumbai Indians.
New Role at Mumbai Indians
As Director of Performance, Bharucha will work alongside head coach Mahela Jayawardene and the franchise’s existing coaching and support staff.
His primary responsibility will be overseeing Mumbai Indians’ off-season performance programme.
The franchise said Bharucha will work closely with its multidisciplinary leadership group across different areas of performance within the Mumbai Indians setup.
His role is expected to cover areas such as player development, preparation, fitness and overall performance planning.
Mumbai Looking to Rebuild
Bharucha’s appointment comes at a time when Mumbai Indians are looking to rediscover their best form.
The franchise has won the IPL five times, with its most recent championship coming in 2020.
However, Mumbai have struggled to maintain that level of success in recent seasons.
Since their 2020 title triumph, they have reached the playoffs only twice. Their disappointing run has also included two last-place finishes and one ninth-place finish.
The franchise will therefore be hoping that changes to its performance structure can help create a more consistent team.
Experience in Developing Young Players
One of Bharucha’s biggest strengths is his track record of working with young cricketers.
Several players who developed under his guidance at Rajasthan Royals went on to become important figures in Indian cricket.
Sanju Samson grew into an established IPL batter and captain, while Yashasvi Jaiswal emerged as one of India’s leading young batters.
Dhruv Jurel has also progressed to international cricket, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has recently attracted enormous attention after making an impact at a remarkably young age.
Mumbai Indians have traditionally invested heavily in young talent through their scouting and development system, making Bharucha’s experience a natural fit for the franchise.
Working With Jayawardene
Bharucha will work alongside Mahela Jayawardene, who continues as Mumbai Indians’ head coach.
The combination gives the franchise a blend of coaching experience and performance management expertise.
With the IPL becoming increasingly competitive, franchises are placing greater emphasis on year-round player development rather than focusing solely on the tournament itself.
Bharucha’s responsibility for the off-season programme could therefore become an important part of Mumbai’s long-term strategy.
A Fresh Approach for Mumbai
The appointment signals Mumbai Indians’ determination to improve their overall performance structure after several inconsistent IPL campaigns.
The franchise will hope Bharucha can replicate the success he enjoyed in developing young talent at Rajasthan Royals while bringing fresh ideas to Mumbai’s established setup.
For Bharucha, the move represents a return to one of the biggest franchises in the IPL and an opportunity to contribute to Mumbai Indians’ attempt to return to the top of the competition.