Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga is set to return to five-time champions Mumbai Indians for next season i.e. IPL 2024. According to a report, Lasith Malinga will replace Shane Bond as speed bowling coach at the Mumbai Indians team.
Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond has been the team’s head coach for the past nine seasons. An IPL source has confirmed to PTI-Bhasha that Bond’s deal with Mumbai is still under review. This source said that the Mumbai Indians’ contract with Bond has still not expired.
ESPNcricinfo previously reported that it was also unclear whether Bond would continue to serve as MI Emirates’ head coach in the ILT20 (International League T20, UAE). The team finished third in that league’s inaugural season.
Significantly, Lasith Malinga’s career with the Mumbai Indians was very successful. Under him, the team won five titles. In addition to winning the Champions League T20 in 2011, this includes four IPL titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019).
Malinga played 139 games for Mumbai, taking 195 wickets on a save rate of 7.12. Of these, 170 wickets came in the IPL. He is the sixth highest wicket taker in this league.
Malinga had already taken on the role of mentor in the team in 2018. He returned to the game a year later and, along with Jasprit Bumrah, led the team’s bowling offense and played a key role in making the team champions. After retiring in 2021, he played the role of fast bowling coach for the Rajasthan Royals in 2022.