Mumbai Indians (MI) bowling coach Lasith Malinga demonstrated his prowess post-retirement by hitting the target spot-on while other bowlers struggled during an IPL 2024 practice session. Despite retiring after the 2019 season, the 40-year-old remains the seventh-highest wicket-taker in IPL history, claiming 170 wickets in 122 matches.
Renowned as one of the best death bowlers at his peak, Malinga played a key role in MIโs five title victories. Arjun Tendulkar and a few other MI bowlers failed to hit the single stump target, while Malinga effortlessly struck it, much to his satisfaction.
You can watch the video here:
๐๐ฎ๐๐ก ๐ง๐๐ก๐ข ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฅน
๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ช ๐ด๐ข๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ท๐ข๐ช๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฌ๐ข ๐ท๐ข๐ช๐ด๐ข ๐ฉ๐ช ๐ฉ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ ๐คฉ#MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians | @malinga_ninety9 pic.twitter.com/6MMKxhigwU
โ Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 10, 2024
MI hasnโt managed to replicate Malingaโs expertise in their bowlers, as evidenced by their conceding the highest team score in league history of 277/3 in 20 overs to SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). The five-time champions currently sit in eighth place on the points table with just one win in four games. However, they found some relief by ending a three-game losing streak with a victory against Delhi Capitals (DC) in their latest match.
MI take on arch-rivals RCB and CSK in their next two matches
As MI aims to recover from a sluggish start to IPL 2024, they seek to assert their supremacy over arch-rivals RCB and CSK in their upcoming matches. In their 32 encounters, MI holds a slight 18-14 edge over RCB. Both teams are eager for victory, especially RCB, who have struggled with just one win in five games this season.
The MI-CSK rivalry stands out as the IPLโs most significant, with a combined total of 10 titles between them. Despite CSK winning both encounters last year, MI maintains a 20-16 advantage in their 36 head-to-head clashes. In contrast to MI and RCB, CSK has been in good form, securing victory in three out of their five matches.
The matchups between MI-RCB and MI-CSK will showcase three of Indiaโs cricketing legends: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni, increasing the excitement and fan rivalries. MI will face RCB at the Wankhede Stadium on April 11, followed by a match against CSK at the same venue on Sunday, April 14.
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