Rajasthan appoint Lasith Malinga, Paddy Upton in coaching roles

Just a week after recruiting Stefan Jones as their high performance fast bowling coach, Rajasthan have roped in Lasith Malinga and Paddy Upton in their coaching staff. While Malinga will be their fast bowling coach, Upton has been assigned the ‘Team’s Catalyst’ role. 

Malinga who was with Mumbai earlier, but retired from all forms of cricket in January last year, recently served as Sri Lanka men’s Bowling Strategy coach. The veteran will look to share his invaluable experience and vision with Rajasthan’s dynamic pace attack. As a fast bowling coach, he would be expected to supervise the preparations of bowling strategies in the build up and during the season.

The veteran is excited to take on the new role. On his appointment, he said “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. 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."

Paddy Upton was Rajasthan’s head coach in 2013-14 and then in 2019, and as Team Catalyst this year he will play a pivotal role in binding the team together and overseeing their mental well being. Upton will be with the team in the bio bubble for the initial four weeks and will later accompany them virtually. 

Rajasthan’s head coach and Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara was full of praise for the new members. He said “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. 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”

"It's the same with Paddy, who has been a great servant for the Royals, and has done an exceptional job in building that cohesion between players and also conditioning them mentally. We believe he will act as a great addition to our coaching staff”