Lasith Malinga Set To Return

tarun

Lasith Malinga, the iconic Sri Lankan fast bowler, is set to make his return to the Mumbai Indians as their Fast Bowling Coach in the upcoming IPL season of 2024. This move sees him taking over the position previously held by renowned New Zealand cricketer Shane Bond for the past nine seasons.

Malinga boasts a long and illustrious association with the Mumbai Indians, having been an integral part of the team's successes. His contributions have been instrumental in the franchise's four IPL titles and one Champions League title. In the 2018 IPL season, while not playing for the team, Malinga took up the role of a bowling mentor, demonstrating his commitment to the team's growth.

The subsequent season saw Malinga's return to the playing squad, where his last-ball heroics clinched yet another IPL title for Mumbai Indians. The 2020 season saw his absence due to personal reasons—his father's illness. In recent times, Malinga has been serving as the bowling coach for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

Despite reports of Malinga's return, an insider informed PTI that Shane Bond's contract with Mumbai Indians is still active and under review. There remains uncertainty about Bond's role, including his position with MI Emirates in the IPL's Abu Dhabi T20 league.

If the reports of Malinga's return to the Mumbai Indians are accurate, this collaboration marks his second stint with the MI support staff, the first being his mentoring role in 2018. His deep-rooted involvement in the team's journey over the past decade adds immense value to the reunion, undoubtedly delighting the MI fan base.