IPL 2024: Mumbai Indians announce Sri Lanka veteran Lasith Malinga as their new bowling coach

Mumbai Indians (MI), the five-time champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), have made a significant addition to their coaching staff, as they recently announced the appointment of Sri Lankan cricketing legend Lasith Malinga as their new bowling coach. The decision has generated a buzz within the cricketing community, given Malinga’s illustrious career and his unparalleled expertise in the art of fast bowling.

Acknowledged globally for his lethal yorkers and remarkable bowling prowess, Malinga has left an indelible mark on the world of cricket. Having retired from international cricket in 2019, the 40-year-old veteran is set to bring his wealth of experience and strategic insights to the Mumbai Indians’ coaching setup.

Lasith Malinga to replace Shane Bond

Mumbai Indians will be Malinga’s third team for the MI franchise as he is already the bowling coach of MI New York in Major League Cricket (MLC) T20 and MI Cape Town in SA20.

Malinga, known for his exceptional T20 performances and his instrumental role in guiding Sri Lanka to victory in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, will replace former New Zealand speedster Shane Bond who recently parted ways with the Mumbai-based IPL franchise.

Also READ: World Cup 2023 – Kris Srikkanth hits back at trolls for calling Virat Kohli’s innings against Bangladesh a selfish act

“Looking forward to working closely with Mark, Polly, Rohit and the rest of the team”: Malinga

After being named MI bowling coach, Malinga expressed his excitement about the new chapter in his career. In an official statement, he remarked, “It is truly an honour for me to be appointed Bowling Coach of Mumbai Indians and my journey in the #OneFamily continues, following MI New York and MI Cape Town. I am looking forward to working closely with Mark, Polly, Rohit and the rest of the team, especially the bowling unit, whose approach I loved last season, and the young MI talent that has the potential to excel, backed by the passionate MI Paltan.”

With the IPL continuing to be a fiercely competitive tournament, Mumbai Indians’ move to bring in Malinga as the bowling coach is seen as a strategic step to further strengthen their bowling unit.

Malinga’s association with MI spans nearly 13 years, commencing from 2008. During this period, he served for 11 years as a player, followed by a year (IPL 2018) as bowling mentor. In early 2023, he took the role of the MI NY bowling coach.

Also READ: Women’s Premier League 2024: Complete list of retained and released players for the second edition

Notably, Malinga has contributed to MI’s team success, securing 7 trophies, including 4 IPL titles, 2 CLT20 victories as a player and one MLC triumph as bowling coach.