IPL 2019: Lasith Malinga joins Mumbai Indians ahead of the RCB clash

The Mumbai Indians’ franchise is a three-time IPL champions with their wins coming in 2013, 2015 and 2017, all under the tutelage of Rohit Sharma. However, one of the biggest reasons for their success has been their bowling attack, led by Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga.

Malinga had joined Mumbai Indians in 2009 and has been with them till 2017 as a player and as a bowling mentor in 2018. After seeing a resurgence in his playing career, the veteran put himself back into the IPL auction in 2019 and was picked up by Mumbai Indians and he might turn out for the franchise in the next game after missing their opening match against Delhi Capitals.

It remains to be seen if the team management includes him straight away in the playing XI for the game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Recently, the Mumbai Indians released a video of Lasith Malinga joining the MI camp. His return boosts MI’s confidence who had lost their first match after brilliant innings from Rishabh Pant.

Malinga hoped to make the difference for the team on the field and expressed his elation after joining the team. “I am really happy to be here. This year also looking forward to play for Mumbai Indians. I will try my best to win all the matches, he said while speaking to MI TV.

Here’s the video:

#OneFamily, ready to witness toe-crushers again in that jersey number 99? 🎯

SLINGA IS BACK! 💙💙💙#CricketMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/4dTIueP0mj

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 28, 2019

Confusion on Malinga’s availability

There was an issue with Lasith Malinga’s participation in the IPL 2019, as the SLC had made it mandatory for the players to play in the domestic One-Day tournament in order to qualify for getting picked in the World Cup squad. Malinga being the current ODI and T20I captain of the team, decided to abide by the ruling.

He informed the MI management that he won’t be available for first six games of the tournament and this became an issue for the team management who had depended on an in-form Malinga to shoulder the bowling responsibility with Jasprit Bumrah. The issue has been sorted out now and the veteran is with the team to display his prowess again.

Here’s Mumbai Indians full squad for the IPL 2019:

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