Lasith Malinga amazed by Jasprit Bumrah’s ability to bowl yorkers and slow balls so easily

Lasith Malinga will go down as one of the legends of cricket. The Sri Lankan star has resurrected his career at the age of 36 despite missing the game for more than a year some time ago. He is captaining the Lankan T20I side and aiming to extend his career by a couple of years more despite hinting at retirement after the T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia.

He is adored for his smiling disposition and ability to stay positive despite hardships and is perhaps a loving icon of Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians, with whom he has been associated with since 2009. He made a comeback as a player in 2019 edition, after announcing retirement from the game and spending the 2018 IPL as the bowling coach of the franchise. He played a big role in MI winning their fourth title by picking a wicket off the last ball against CSK to guide them to win the final by 1 run.

I am really happy to have helped someone while I am still playing international cricket: Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga is often seen as the mentor of Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, with whom he has played for quite some time in IPL and Gujarat-born fast bowler has learned a lot from the Lankan great about bowling yorkers and slower balls. Malinga has been noted by Bumrah as one of the reasons for his amazing rise as the World’s no.1 bowler, having made his Test debut in 2018 and ODI-T20I debut in 2016.

“I am really happy to have helped someone while I am still playing international cricket, and he is the World No. 1 bowler now. Happy to have given him tips that make him recognize my contribution in his career. I think everyone should share their experience and expertise with young players so that cricket is the eventual winner.”

“Jasprit might have options better than me too for getting inputs; he has the kind of brain which can collect and work on all advises he gets. It is evident from how he executes his yorkers and slower balls, it is just unbelievable how he does it. He is very hungry to learn,” Malinga was quoted as saying by Cricket.com when asked about Bumrah.

Lasith Malinga shares the best and worst moments of his international career

The Slinga-Malinga, as he is known lovingly for his slinging action also talked about his worst and best moments in the ODI career. The Galle-born fast bowler called the thumping he got from Virat Kohli and Co in the 2012 tri-series match down under and the loss in finals of World T20 in the same year as his worst moments. While he called his return against Bangladesh in 2018 and his four wickets against England in World Cup 2019 as the best moment in his career.

“Among the worst memories will be Sri Lanka’s loss to India in Adelaide in 2012, when they scored 320-340 something and I missed my lengths and could not execute my plans. And then the World T20 final that same year, I tried my best but couldn’t perform well,” said Malinga

Best memories will definitely be the four wickets against England in the 2019 World Cup followed by the Man of the Match award. I proved to the Sri Lankan team management that I can perform even at this age. Also, the Asia cup match against Bangladesh last year, the one in which I made a comeback after 18 months, that also remains special,” he added.

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