Veteran Mumbai Indians pacer Lasith Malinga has opted out from IPL 2020 due to personal reasons and now the management is looking for someone to fill his big shoes. The MI skipper Rohit Sharma said that the team will miss his experience in the IPL.
“I don’t think it is easy to come and fill his boots. He has been a match-winner for Mumbai. I have said it many times, whenever we sort of find ourselves in trouble, Malinga was the one to bail us out from that,” Rohit said in a pre-season online press conference.
Meanwhile, the MI skipper has picked out three names which he thinks can fill in the big shoes of Lasith Malinga. He said he is hoping either of James Pattinson, Dhawal Kulkarni or Mohsin Khan can fill in the role for Malinga.
“We have got likes – (James) Pattinson, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mohsin (Khan) and these are the names that we are looking to replace Malinga with. But obviously what Malinga did for Mumbai, it is not just comparable,” he added.
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James Pattinson Named Lasith Malinga’s Replacement
Pattinson who was named as a replacement for Lasith Malinga, is a seasoned campaigner in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). He is currently playing for the Brisbane Heat and has played for the Melbourne Renegades in the past. Being a tall bowler, Pattinson generates extra bounce from the wicket and will be banking on his pace and bounce on this IPL season.
Dhawal Kulkarni who plays domestic cricket for Mumbai is a seasoned campaigner in the IPL and has played for Mumbai in the initial years.
Rohit Sharma to Open for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020
Adapting to the given conditions will be the biggest challenge for the players as per Rohit Sharma, who will be opening with Quinton de Kock throughout IPL 2020.
“I think mentally it is about going out there and understanding what the pitch is doing, and based on that, you need to plan your game – whether it is your batting or bowling. So we have had a good chat around the group about that,” he elaborated.
Lasith Malinga with 170 scalps is the league’s highest wicket-taker in its history.
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