Lasith Malinga unlikely for first half of IPL, says Ricky Ponting

Mumbai Indians will miss the services of pace spearhead Lasith Malinga at least for the first half of the season. Malinga has been pivotal to Mumbai Indians campaign since 2009 taking 143 wickets in 98 games and his absence due to injury will be a severe jolt to coach Ricky Ponting’s plans of defending the title.

Malinga who missed the ICC World Twenty20 in India due to injury is yet to join the squad.

“I believe he will be joining us after the first couple of games to have his fitness assessed. Right now it’s unlikely he will take part in the first half of the tournament anyway. If we want to name a replacement we have to do so before the fifth game,” Ponting said.

Ponting admitted they will miss Malinga but suggested they had adequate replacements in the form of Tim Southee and Marchant de Lange with Mitchell McClenaghan being perhaps the first choice pacer due to his impressive show last season.

“If you look at last season when we were playing our best cricket, Malinga was bowling at his best as well. He’s been one of the great performers in world cricket with the new as well as the old ball. He will be definitely missed, but we have more than adequate replacements if he’s ruled out. We can also think about having three (foreign) batsmen,” he said. The former Australian skipper wasn’t worried about Mumbai Indians’ skipper Rohit Sharma’s poor form in the WT20. Rohit though showed glimpses of regaining form in the semi-final against West Indies at Wankhede stadium. “Rohit has shown it over a long period of time. You will have ups and downs. I am sure he will play well ,” he said.