Malinga will serve as a fast-bowling coach while Upton, the franchise's team catalyst, will be in charge of looking after mental wellbeing
Rajasthan Royals have added Lasith Malinga and Paddy Upton to their backroom staff for the 2022 Indian Premier League.
Malinga, who retired in 2021, is the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, picking up 170 wickets in nine seasons for Mumbai Indians, and has been recruited as the franchise’s fast bowling coach.
He recently served as Sri Lanka’s bowling strategy coach for their T20I series against Australia and previously balanced his playing commitments at Mumbai with a role as a bowling mentor.
At Rajasthan Royals, he will work alongside head coach Kumar Sangakkara and high-performance fast-bowling coach Steffan Jones.
"It's a wonderful feeling for me to return to the IPL and an absolute honour to join Rajasthan Royals, a franchise that has always promoted and developed young talent," Malinga said.
Paddy Upton [Michael Steele/Getty Images]
"I am excited by the pace bowling unit we have going into the tournament and looking forward to supporting all the fast bowlers with the execution of their game-plans and their overall development. I've made some very special memories in the IPL with Mumbai Indians and now with Royals, looking forward to new experiences and creating great memories in this journey."
Upton, who coached the Royals between 2013 and 2015 and again in 2019, will work with the franchise as a team catalyst, focusing on the mental wellbeing of the players. He will be with the team in person for the first four weeks of the competition before continuing in a virtual capacity.
In a statement, the franchise said: "Being the team catalyst, Upton will play a crucial role in establishing team integration by bringing them together as a cohesive and mutually supporting unit, and look after their mental well-being with the use of various mental conditioning processes and activities that aid in maintaining a healthy culture and environment, especially within the restrictions of being in a bio-bubble."
Addressing both appointments, Sangakkara added: "Lasith is arguably one of the greatest T20 fast bowlers of all time, and to have a personality like his around the training ground, and the expertise he brings to the table, is certainly something we feel the team can benefit from.
"We have some of the best fast bowlers in our squad and we are delighted that they will have the chance to work with Lasith and get to learn and develop further.
"It's the same with Paddy, who has been a great servant for the Royals, and has done an exceptional job in building that cohesion between players and also conditioning them mentally. We believe he will act as a great addition to our coaching staff."