Rajasthan Royals (RR), an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, has appointed former New Zealand cricketer Shane Bond as their new fast bowling and assistant coach. This decision was made following Lasith Malinga’s departure from the role after two seasons with the Jaipur-based team.
Shane Bond, a legendary fast bowler and former Kiwi cricketer, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He previously served as the bowling coach of the New Zealand national team from 2012 to 2015, playing a significant role in helping the Kiwis reach the 2015 World Cup final. After his stint with the national team, Bond joined the Mumbai Indians in 2015, where he remained until the last season in 2023. During his tenure with Mumbai Indians, Bond played a pivotal role in developing talents like Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult.
Commenting on his appointment with Rajasthan Royals, Bond expressed his delight and gratitude to the franchise. He mentioned, “I’m delighted to be joining the Royals. It’s a forward-thinking franchise who are determined to do well, and I’m excited about being part of their vision. The bowling group is a great mix of youth and experience, and it will be awesome to work alongside them.”
Shane Bond’s experience extends beyond the IPL; he has also worked with Big Bash League franchises, serving as an assistant coach for Brisbane Heat in 2015 and as a head coach for Sydney Thunder in 2018.
The former New Zealand cricketer represented the BlackCaps in 18 Test matches and 82 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), amassing 234 wickets throughout his career.
Rajasthan Royals Director of Cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, warmly welcomed Shane Bond to the franchise, praising the legendary fast bowler’s experience and knowledge. Sangakkara stated, “Shane is one of the greatest fast bowlers of modern-day cricket and brings with himself a wealth of experience and knowledge having mentored some of the best in the business. He has served in the IPL and in India for a number of years and is well-versed with the processes involved within the franchise ecosystem.”
Sangakkara continued, “He is someone who has a keen eye for helping the best become even better, and we are delighted to welcome him to the franchise and look forward to seeing the impact he can make towards molding us into a title-winning team.”
At Rajasthan Royals, Shane Bond will have the opportunity to work with bowlers like Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Sen, KM Asif, Kuldip Yadav, and Sandeep Sharma, among others. The Royals, in the previous IPL season (2023), did not qualify for the knockout stage and finished fifth with seven wins in 14 matches.
For More Related Updates Please Visit Our Official Website
By- Sahiba Suri