Mumbai Indians roped in Nuwan Thushara the Sri Lankan pacer for 4.40 crores in the IPL 2024 auction.Thushara the 29-year-old slinger action paceman was the highest value by Sri Lankan player at this IPL auction.
Speaking after the IPL 2024 auction, the Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher spoke about the pace attack that the management has been successful in getting. He said that MI got the likes of Coetzee and Madushanka at a relatively cheaper price than expected.
“We were surprised that we got both of them at a very cheap price. We are really happy with the two international picks we have gotten so far,” said Boucher.
He further spoke about Dilshan Madushanka’s acquisition and said that they bagged him based on his recent performances. He picked up 21 wickets in the World Cup and was Sri Lanka’s highest wicket-taker in the competition.
Nuwan Thushara’s Selection Was Based On His Recent Performances: Mark Boucher
“We made the decision to go for him because he is a young, up and coming superstar. He is a three phase bowler. He swings the new ball nicely and has good change ups at the death. The selection is purely on the basis of what he has been doing of late and I’m sure he’ll add a lot of value to our team” he said.
He then spoke about the thought behind the acquisition of Nuwan Thushara. He said that with his unorthodox action, he is the X-factor for the team.
“Nuwan Thushara came into the equation in the last month or two. I was actually at the T-10 competition that was played in Abu Dhabi. I saw him there he was bowling well, he picked up a lot of wickets and was not getting hit at the death as well.
Polly was actually playing in that competition as well so he actually got to face him.” he added further. Boucher also eluded to the fact that Lasith Malinga has worked with him before and watched him bowl from close quarters. Malinga will be back to Mumbai Indians as the new fast bowling coach.
“Mali has worked with him before as well. It was the right pick for all of us we were all very happy. Mahela the team Director has been around him as well so it was the right pick for all of us.
He gives us some great variation and we have seen that in the IPL, if you have got something different you become a bit of an X-factor player and he will be our X-factor player” Boucher concluded. (Agencies)
