Lasit Malinga is set to return as fast bowling coach of Mumbai Indians for the next IPL season.
Legendary Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga is expected to rejoin Mumbai Indians in a new position of fast bowling coach replacing Kiwi great Shane Bond in the IPL season 2024. For the previous nine seasons, the seasoned Kiwi had filled that post.
Malinga has been associated with Mumbai Indians for a very long time. He has helped MI in winning 4 IPL titles and 1 Champions League title. In IPL 2018, he did not play for Mumbai Indians but he was the bowling mentor of the side.
In the next season, he returned again as a fast bowler and helped MI in winning the title again with his last ball thrill. He missed the 2020 season of IPL because he had to attend his ill father. For the past two IPL seasons, he is serving as bowling coach of Rajasthan Royals team in the IPL.
In contrast of the news, an IPL source told PTI that Bond's deal with Mumbai Indians is still being looked at."MI's contract with Bond is still not over as of yet," the person claimed.
It was previously reported by ESPNCricinfo that it was unclear whether Bond will remain the head coach of MI Emirates in the ILT20, where they came third this year.
If the reports are believed to be true, this will be the second collaboration of Lasith Malinga with the MI support staff followed by the mentoring role in the year 2018. Malinga has been a core member of the Mumbai Indians during the crucial years of the last decade and this reunion is definitely going to please the MI fans.
Malinga played in the 139 matches for Mumbai Indians and took 195 wickets with an economy rate of 7.12. He is the sixth highest wicket taker in the history of IPL and his experience is definitely going to help the MI in the upcoming IPL season.