West Indian pacer Alzarri Joseph has replaced New Zealand’s Adam Milne who was earlier ruled out earlier due to injury in the Mumbai Indians’ (MI) squad. The franchise’s other pacer Lasith Malinga too was not available in their first game. However, it is expected that he will join Rohit Sharma & Co. soon in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“Mumbai Indians have picked Alzarri Joseph as a replacement for the injured fast bowler Adam Milne for the IPL 2019. Joseph has featured in nine Tests and 16 ODIs for the West Indies so far,” the IPL said in a statement.

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Joseph came into limelight during the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016 for his ability to bowl fast. He took 13 wickets in six matches which included three in the final against India. He even dismissed the then U-19 captain Ishan Kishan in the World Cup final, with whom he is going to share the dressing room of MI. Right-arm pacer, Joseph has picked up 25 Test wickets, 24 ODI wickets for West Indies so far. He has played only 7 T20 games till date where he took 9 wickets, including the best of 4/41.

His inclusion will give extra strength to Mumbai’s bowling attack with Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga; who has returned to the squad of MI. However, this is going to be the first IPL of Joseph.

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Mumbai Indians will play their second game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Bangalore on March 28, Thursday. Meanwhile, MI has started their campaign in this season with a loss of 37 runs against the Delhi Capitals at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi on Sunday. On the other hand, RCB too lost their first game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Both the team will certainly try to be back in form at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in  Bangalore on Thursday.