IPL 2022: Lasith Malinga Breaks Up With Mumbai Indians, Joins This Franchise As Bowling Coach

Former Sri Lankan bowler Lasith Malinga has been roped in by Rajasthan Royal as the fast bowling coach ahead of Indian Premier League season 15 (IPL 2022). The Sri Lankan pacer was a part of 5-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians and played an important part in Mumbai Indians winning the title four times. Rajasthan Royals informed everyone of this appointment through a tweet on their official Twitter account. 

Malinga is the highest wicket-taker till now in the history of the IPL, with 170 wickets to his name in 122 matches. The 38-year old 'yorker specialist' represented only Mumbai Indians in his IPL career ranging from 2009 to 2019 and 122 matches. The legendary bowler has a 5-wicket haul and six 4-wicket hauls in his IPL career. 

Lasith Malinga joining a franchise other than Mumbai Indians may come as a shock to many, given his cordial relations with the franchise. However, Kumar Sangakkara is RR's director of cricket and so the appointment of Lasith Malinga in the coaching staff seems not-so-surprising. While talking about Rajasthan's bowling attack, Prasidh Krishna, Navdeep Saini, Trent Boult and Obed McCoy comprise the fast bowling attack and may prove to be formidable. 

Rajasthan Royals will place their first match in the IPL 2022 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 29th at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. Sanju Samson will be leading the Rajasthan franchise while Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal were the other two players who were retained by the franchise prior to IPL 2022 mega auction. 

Rajasthan also acquired experienced spinners such as Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal through the IPL 2022 auction. Apart from this, Shimron Hetmeyer, Rassie van der Dussen, Jimmy Neesham and Daryl Mitchell are among overseas names that can do well for the team in the 2022 edition of the IPL.