IPL 2022 | Lasith Malinga joins Rajasthan Royals as bowling coach

Former Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga will be seen as a Rajasthan Royals coaching staff member for the upcoming Indian Premier League. Rajasthan Royals announced the appointment of the legendary former player of Mumbai Indians as their new fast bowling coach for IPL 2022. 

Malinga will be working with his former Sri Lanka teammate Kumara Sangakkara, the Director of Cricket of the franchise. 

Sangakkara said both Malinga and Paddy Upton would be great additions to the coaching staff. 

"Lasith is arguably one of the greatest T20 fast bowlers of all time, and to have a personality like his around the training ground and the expertise he brings to the table is certainly something we feel the team can benefit from," he added. 

"We have some of the best fast bowlers in our squad, and we are delighted that they will have the chance to work with Lasith and get to learn and develop further.”

Malinga had announced his retirement from all game formats in January 2018. He had won four IPL titles as part of the Mumbai Indians team and last featured in the 2019 edition of the league. 

Notably, he is the leading wicket-taker in the history of the IPL with 170 dismissals across nine seasons of the league to his name. He worked for Mumbai Indians as their bowling mentor and then was appointed as Sri Lanka’s bowling strategy coach for the T20I series in Australia.

Today Rajasthan Royals took to their social media account to reveal the same, “*𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥* Lasith Malinga. IPL. Pink. 💗 #RoyalsFamily | #TATAIPL2022 | @ninety9sl”.

"It's a wonderful feeling for me to return to the IPL and an absolute honour to join Rajasthan Royals, a franchise that has always promoted and developed young talent," Malinga said. 

"I am excited by the pace bowling unit we have going into the tournament and looking forward to supporting all the fast bowlers with the execution of their game plans and their overall development. I've made some very special memories in the IPL with Mumbai Indians and now with Royals, looking forward to new experiences and creating great memories in this journey."