Lasith Malinga returns to Mumbai Indians as fast bowling coach

Lasith Malinga returns to Mumbai Indians (MI) as their fast bowling coach for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, replacing Shane Bond, who has been in charge for the past nine seasons. This is the second time the former Sri Lankan pacer will be part of MI's backroom staff, having previously been the mentor in 2018. However, he returned to action the following season, helping the franchise to their fourth IPL title, forming a deadly partnership with Jasprit Bumrah.

After retiring, Malinga was appointed as the bowling coach of Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) and was part of the set-up for two seasons. Overall, Malinga won five IPL titles with MI and a Champions League T20 title in 2011. He is the sixth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 170 scalps, and among the overseas contingent, he is only second to Dwayne Bravo (183).

Bond joined MI in 2015 and was an integral part of the set-up with skipper Rohit Sharma and Mahela Jayawardene, who served as the head coach between 2015 and 2022. Bond is also the head coach of MI's International League T20 (ILT20) franchise MI Emirates, but whether or not he will continue in that position for the next season is not known yet. Emirates finished third in the inaugural edition of IPL T20 earlier this year, losing to eventual winners Gujarat Giants in the second Qualifier.

In IPL 2023, MI finished fourth in the points table but lost to Gujarat Titans (GT) in the second Qualifier after blowing past Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Eliminator. They last won the IPL in 2020.