Sri Lanka bowling spearhead Lasith Malinga will be released for the IPL auction by his franchise Mumbai Indians, Cricket Age learns. As the Million-dollar league celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, all the players will go the auction before the next season, and according to sources Mukesh Ambani owned franchise is not willing to retain its premier bowler.
“As per the rules, Every team can preserve maximum four to five players, Mumbai Indians team management is on the opinion to release the Slinga Malinga” a source, close to Mumbai Indians told Cricket Age.
“The Mumbai Indians can also buy him back, but as far as the auction is concerned, its looks like Lasith Malinga will find himself in the pool of players up for grabs” source revealed further.
Since the inception of the IPL, Malinga has been the undisputed king of the tournament, when it comes to bowlers. He is the only bowler in the history of the tournament to have more than 150 wickets under his belt.
However, during this year’s Edition, he was not at his best, and even found himself warming the bench for a few games. As his speed and ability to deliver deadly yorkers declined considerably, he clearly overshadowed by Mitchell McClenaghan and Jasprit Bumrah this season. Even when Mitchell Johnson has been given a game, he’s looked better than Malinga. The Sri Lankan pacer bagged 11 wickets off his 11 matches. For a bowler whose strength is the economy, Malinga finished with an economy rate of 8.84 this season; his highest across seasons.
