India Premier League 2016: Lasith Malinga's absence will have no effect on Mumbai Indians, feels Shane Bond

Injured Malinga is expected to warm the bench at least for the first half of the IPL's round robin stage.

New Delhi: Ninth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has started but uncertainty over the availability of Mumbai Indians' premier bowler, Lasith Malinga, is still intact.

However, bowling coach of MI, Shane Bond seems unperturbed with it as he feels that Mumbai have capable players at their disposal who can step into the Sri Lankan’s shoes.

“The (franchise) owners and (head coach) Ricky (Ponting) have done a good job in recruiting a couple of fast bowlers in the side. So we have cover for him (Malinga). If he arrives fit, he will surely fit into our squad. If he doesn’t, we have good cover for him,” said MI’s bowling coach Bond was quotes as saying by PTI.

Malinga, who is nursing his knee injury, is expected to warm the bench at least for the first half of the IPL's round robin stage.

The Sri Lankan pacer, has been an integral part of MI for years and played a key role last year by taking 24 wickets in 15 games in franchises' memorable come from behind run to win the title for the second time.

Bond, heaped praise on young Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah and feels that at the moment he is one of the best bowlers for his country.

“I think last year he (Bumrah) was coming into the matches, after a serious knee injury, so didn’t see the best of him. But his development over the last year is credit to himself the manner of hard work he has put in,” said Bond whose career too was hit hard by injuries.think the way he particularly bowled for India in the World T20, he has been one of the best bowlers for India,” added Bond about the performance of Bumrah since he made his debut during the tour to Australia earlier this year to play ODIs and T20Is.

(With PTI inputs)