The Rajasthan Royals (RR) team has welcomed renowned New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond as their new assistant and bowling coach for the upcoming IPL 2024 season. Bond, who spent nine years as the bowling coach for Mumbai Indians (MI), offers his significant expertise to the Royals’ coaching group.
Shane Bond had a notable cricketing career, featuring in 18 Test matches for New Zealand from 2001 to 2009. Following his playing days, he took on the role of bowling coach for the Kiwis, serving from 2012 to 2015. During his time as part of the coaching staff, New Zealand reached the finals of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, a significant achievement.
Furthermore, Bond extended his coaching expertise to the Mumbai Indians, where he served as a bowling coach from 2015 to 2023. Under his guidance, the team secured an impressive four IPL titles.
One of Bond’s most significant contributions to the game is his mentorship of today’s fast bowlers. He played a pivotal role in the development and supervision of talented players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell McClenaghan, and Trent Boult, solidifying his legacy as a mentor in the world of cricket.
“I’m delighted to be joining the Royals. It’s a forward-thinking franchise that is 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,” said Bond.
This also signifies that Bond’s tenure as the head coach of MI Emirates, which is a team owned by the Mumbai Indians in the UAE’s ILT20, has come to a close.
Kumar Sangakkara, the Director of Cricket for the Rajasthan Royals, extended a warm welcome to Shane Bond as he joined the franchise. Shane Bond is set to take over as the new bowling coach, succeeding Lasith Malinga, who has returned to the Mumbai Indians’ camp to assume the role of their bowling coach.
“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 in the processes involved within the franchise ecosystem.
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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,” Sangakkara said in a statement as quoted by Cricbuzz.
