“There have been quite a lot of negative thoughts coming about Malinga after the World Cup. We have to understand that the one-day format has completely become different for the bowlers from what it earlier was. If you look through the stats of all the bowlers, the economy rates of most of the bowlers have only gone up, after the World Cup. There are only a few of those guys whose economy rates are actually quite low. I believe where Malinga now is in his career, I think he is best suited to T20 cricket. Only has to bowl four overs. The skills he has for T20 are outstanding. He executes the yorkers, the slower balls, the bouncers, they are the skills you need to be an excellent T20 bowler.”

Mumbai Indians head coach Ricky Ponting had scratched aside the doubt-mongers who had started raising questions against Lasith Malinga’s ability to be the leader of the Mumbai Indians bowling pack ahead of the eighth edition of the Indian Premier League.

Ponting’s words seem to have come true in every sense, as Malinga has not only emerged as the spearhead of the Mumbai Indian’s bowling attack, but is also a strong contender to walk away with the Purple Cap, one more time.

The Sri Lankan pace sensation, started the season as the all-time highest wicket-taker in IPL. Still, a string of injuries over the last 12 months resulted in the veteran losing a bit of pace. Though he was Sri Lanka’s wrecker-in-chief during the World Cup, many said he was no longer as effective as he used to be.

But Malinga, has over the last five weeks silenced all his critics with sterling performances in the Mumbai Indian’s blues. He was scratchy as expected to begin with but, once he got into his rhythm, he has been as reliable as he has ever been since he made his debut for MI, in 2009. It has reflected in his bowling analysis as the slinging sensation, as he has taken at least one wicket in 10 of the 11 games, he has played so far.

MI captain Rohit Sharma had said ahead of the season: “For someone like Malinga, it is just a matter of one game.” And that game proved to be the one against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium. Malinga’s four-wicket haul was indeed an ‘Education for All’, just like the social cause initiated by the Reliance Foundation, and endorsed by the Mumbai Indians.

That spell turned out to be the game-changer Malinga and MI were desperately looking for. Since that game, MI returned to winning ways and went on to register a five-match unbeaten run. Barring the game in Chennai, where players from Sri Lanka cannot participate due to political reasons, Malinga has pocketed 9 wickets in these four overs at 13.44 runs per wicket, to play an instrumental role.

The rich haul has elevated him into joint fourth in the race for the Purple Cap, just three wickets behind leader Dwayne Bravo’s 19. If he continues to get his toe-crushing yorkers to perfection, he would not only snatch the coveted cap from Bravo but also ease MI’s entry into their sixth successive Playoffs.

Watch this space.