MI bowling coach Lasith Malinga sees the comeback of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya as a significant boost for the franchise in IPL 2024. Bumrah was sidelined due to injury in IPL 2023, while Hardik played for the Gujarat Titans for the past two seasons before rejoining MI through an off-season all-cash trade deal.
Even though Bumrah and Hardik were missing, MI secured a third-place finish last season, bowing out in Qualifier 2 against eventual runners-up GT. Malinga expressed confidence in the experience that Bumrah and Hardik bring to the team during an interview with reporters following the MI junior tournament.
“Experience, we can’t buy that. They are in top form as well. Bumrah has been playing Test cricket over the last few months and has performed really well.”
“Plus, they have the knowledge and experience of T20 cricket. How they handle things, they can share with all the youngsters in our team. This is the best thing to have happened in MI,” said Malinga.
Bumrah has played a crucial role in MI’s five IPL titles between 2013 and 2020, whereas Hardik contributed to their last four victories in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Additionally, Hardik, who led GT to a title and a runners-up finish in 2022 and 2023 respectively, will also captain MI in the upcoming season.
“We always prefer bowlers with great courage”- Lasith Malinga
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Lasith Malinga believes that despite the widespread perception of T20 being dominated by batsmen, it’s actually the bowlers who are the true game-changers.
MI focused on bolstering their pace-bowling unit during the mini-auction, securing players like Gerald Coetzee, Dilshan Madushanka, and Nuwan Thushara, demonstrating their commitment to strengthening their bowling arsenal.
“Most people think T20 is the batters’ game, but I still feel bowlers win matches. That’s why we (MI) want big-hearted bowlers. Like Boom (Bumrah) and Aksah Madhwal, for example.”
“These are two good Indian bowlers who have experience of playing (for MI). MI always believes in having a proper fast-bowling unit. And I feel we have got that this time,” said Malinga.
Malinga also mentioned collaborating closely with Akash Madhwal, who performed admirably in Bumrah’s absence last year, claiming 14 wickets in eight matches.
“He is good and has a lot of potential. Confidence-wise he is really strong. He knows exactly what to do. We just have to keep talking to him. I want to know what he is from the inside. I like to share my experiences with him, and try and get from him his thought process about things,” concluded Malinga.
Madhwal’s impressive displays in the latter part of the IPL 2023 season contributed significantly to MI’s qualification for the playoffs. The five-time champions kick off their 2024 campaign with an exciting showdown against GT in Ahmedabad on March 24th.
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