Mumbai Indians received a massive boost on Tuesday with Lasith Malinga becoming available to play in the ongoing IPL. Malinga’s participation was expected to be curtailed initially after he was asked to play the Super Provincial One Day Tournament by Sri Lanka Cricket.
The domestic tournament was made mandatory by the cricket board for the World Cup hopefuls. But with the IPL expected to be more competitive than the 50-over domestic tournament, the board has allowed the veteran pacer to take part in the T20 league.
Mumbai Indians’s head coach Mahela Jayawardene is understood to have made a crucial role in SLC’s change of heart. “When we got him in the auction, SLC gave us his availability schedule, that tournament wasn’t part of that,’ Jayawardene had said earlier. “So there is a conversation to be made and once we get through that conversation we’ll let you know,” he had said.
Malinga’s availability will ease MI’s issues in the bowling department. The franchise has already lost Adam Milne to an injury and do not have clarity over Jasprit Bumrah’s participation for the rest of the tournament after the Indian pacer appeared to injure himself during his side’s season opener against Delhi Capitals.
Malinga, the IPL’s highest wicket-taker, has been a mainstay in the team’s three title wins. Last year though, he was a part of the coaching staff after going unsold in the auction. But with the 35-year-old regaining form and fitness in recent months, the franchise bought him back in December last year in the auction. Mumbai Indians’s next clash is against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Thursday.