Mumbai Indians have officially announced the appointment of Lasith Malinga, the former Sri Lankan pace bowler, as their new bowling coach. Malinga steps into this role, succeeding the former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond, as confirmed by the Indian Premier League franchise on Friday.
Malinga, who retired from international cricket in 2021, now takes on coaching responsibilities in preparation for the upcoming season. He joins a coaching team rich in experience, led by Mark Boucher and his former teammate, the hard-hitting Kieron Pollard. This coaching team is poised to bring valuable knowledge and expertise to the franchise, which has enjoyed immense success in the IPL.
In addition to his role with the Mumbai Indians, Malinga also holds the position of bowling coach for two other teams affiliated with the franchise: MI Cape Town in the SA20 league in South Africa and MI New York in Major League Cricket in the USA.
Following his appointment, Malinga expressed his eagerness to collaborate with figures like Boucher, Pollard, and team captain Rohit Sharma. This move marks a return to familiar territory for the 40-year-old cricketing icon, who represented the Mumbai franchise during the prime of his playing career.
Malinga stated: "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."
Lasith Malinga offered his services to Mumbai Indians for nearly 13 years
Malinga's connection with the Mumbai Indians spans nearly 13 years, during which he played a pivotal role in the team's impressive achievements. His contributions led to seven trophy wins across various leagues, including four IPL titles, two Champions League T20 titles during his playing career, and one Major League Cricket title in his role as a bowling coach. Before joining the Mumbai Indians, Malinga also served as the fast bowling coach for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.