Mumbai Indians have adequate cover for Malinga: Shane Bond

Mumbai, April 8। After veteran pacer Lasith Malinga was ruled out of the first half of Indian Premier League (IPL), Mumbai Indians’ bowling coach Shane Bond said on Friday his side has enough depth in their bowling line-up and adequate replacement of the Sri Lankan.

Defending champions Mumbai start their campaign in the ninth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) against new franchise Rising Pune Supergiants at the Wankhede Stadium here on Saturday.

“Nothing changes like in any injury that is the depth of the squad. When it comes to IPL during the course of time, there were 16 players, so you cannot rely on one player," Bond said at the pre-match press conference here.

"The owners and Ricky Ponting (head coach) have done a good job in recruiting couple of fast bowlers in the side. So, we have cover for him. If he arrives fit, he will surely fit into our squad. If he doesn't, we have good cover for him," Bond added.

Bond also lauded Carlos Brathwaite's for hitting four successive sixes in the final over off Ben Stokes which guided the West Indies to stunning victory over England in the recent World T20 final.

The 40-year-old said: "It is all batsman conditions specific. We play in a ground where batsmen hit heavily, playing down the ground. You have grounds like Mohali which have big square boundaries."

"That is the key, summing up the pitch, conditions and batsman and being able to adapt to a certain plan to a certain ground and to a certain player."

Agency