Lasith Malinga is back with MI! Sri Lankan legend to leave RR and replace Shane Bond as MI’s fast bowling coach

Malinga will replace Shane Bond as MI's fast-bowling coach.

Lasith Malinga is back with MI! Sri Lankan legend to leave RR and replace Shane Bond as MI’s fast bowling coach

Lasith Malinga (Image via Getty)

The Sri Lankan legend, Lasith Malinga, is set to leave Rajasthan Royals (MI) to join his old franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) as per a report published on ESPNCricinfo. Malinga will replace Shane Bond as MI’s fast-bowling coach.

Malinga retired from Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2021 and joined 2008 champions RR in 2022 as their fast-bowling coach and served there for two years. The former paceman even mentored MI in 2018 before making a comeback and forming a lethal pace attack with India’s Jasprit Bumrah in IPL 2019, playing important roles to help Mumbai win their fourth title. Malinga bowled in the last over in the final of IPL 2019 and helped MI win the match by one run against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

YouTube video

On the other hand, Shane Bond, who served as a fast-bowling coach for the past nine seasons, may and may not continue as MI Emirates’ head coach in the ILT20. Bond’s contract with MI is also under review. “MI’s contract with Bond is still not over as yet,” a source confirmed to PTI.

Related: “The moment Dhoni gave up captaincy,” Shoaib Akhtar feels Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli PANIC in World Cups and can’t soak pressure like MS Dhoni

Lasith Malinga has won four IPL trophies with MI 

Lasith Malinga is back with MI! Sri Lankan legend to leave RR and replace Shane Bond as MI's fast bowling coach
Lasith Malinga (Image via Getty)

With the MI, Lasith Malinga has won five trophies. Four IPL titles (2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019), and one Champions League T20 (2011). He represented the five-time IPL champions in 139 matches, bagging 195 wickets at an economy rate of 7.12.

Apart from Mumbai, other franchises like Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) also made changes to their coaching staff. SRH included Daniel Vettori as chief head coach, while LSG roped in Justin Langer as their head coach. 

Meanwhile, Mumbai finished fourth in the 2023 IPL points table. Rohit Sharma and Co. lost to Gujarat Titans (GT) in the qualifier. 

In case you missed!