Mumbai Indians (MI) bowling coach Lasith Malinga believes the return of the star players duo, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, is the best thing for the franchise for IPL 2024. While Bumrah missed IPL 2023 with an injury, Hardik was leading the Gujarat Titans for the last two seasons before returning to MI in an all-cash trade deal.

Speaking to reporters after the MI junior tournament, Malinga said, “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.”

While Jasprit Bumrah has been a key player in Mumbai Indians’ five IPL titles from 2013 to 2020, Hardik Pandya was their last four triumphs in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 as well.

“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,” said Malinga.

“He is good and has a lot of potential. Confidence-wise he is really strong. He knows exactly what to do. We just have to keep talking to him. I want to know what he is from the inside. I like to share my experiences with him, and try and get from him his thought process about things,” concluded Lasith Malinga.