IPL 2024: Lasith Malinga excited with the return of Bumrah-Hardik duo in MI

Iconic Indian pace, Bumrah missed the entirety of IPL 2023 after undergoing back-surgery, while Hardik only joined MI from Gujarat Titans in the recent IPL 2024 trading window.

While speaking to reporters after the MI junior inter-school tournament, Malinga stressed the impact that Bumrah and Hardik’s return will have on the MI squad.

“Experience, we can’t buy that. They are in top form as well. Bumrah has been playing Test cricket over the last few months and has performed really well. Plus, they have the knowledge and experience of T20 cricket. How they handle things, they can share with all the youngsters in our team. This is the best thing to have happened in MI,” Malina said.

Malinga went on to emphasise the importance of bowlers in the T20 format of the game, while giving reference to Jasprit Bumrah and Aksah Madhwal’s good run of form.

“Most people think T20 is the batters’ game, but I still feel bowlers win matches. That’s why we (MI) want big-hearted bowlers. Like Boom (Bumrah) and Aksah Madhwal, for example. These are two good Indian bowlers who have experience of playing (for MI). MI always believes in having a proper fast-bowling unit. And I feel we have got that this time,” Malinga added.

Malinga, a four-time IPL winner with MI, has joined the team again, this time as the bowling coach, leaving his previous role at Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2024.

Since MI’s announcement of Hardik Pandya taking over the MI captaincy from their long-successful and fan-favourite captain Rohit Sharma, the speculation regarding the all-rounder’s performance in his new role has been at an all-time high. With the responsibility of leading big names like those of Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah, Pandya has the backing of MI management to continue the five-time champion franchises’ success in the tournament.

MI were knocked out in the Qualifier 2 stage of IPL 2023, a blow they will hope to bounce back from in their 2024 campaign. Their first challenge in IPL 2023 comes with their clash against Hardik’s former side Gujarat Titans on March 24 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.