Brett Lee has addressed the swirling rumors about him taking up the role of Mumbai Indians’ (MI) bowling coach ahead of 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Mumbai Indians will face arch-rivals CSK

The highly anticipated IPL 2025 is set to commence on March 22, promising another thrilling season of T20 cricket. As the 18th edition of the world’s most popular franchise cricket league, IPL 2025 will feature intense competition among ten teams, all vying for the prestigious trophy. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the tournament opener at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.  Five-time champions MI will kickstart their IPL 2025 campaign against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Led by Hardik Pandya, who has returned as MI’s captain, the team will look to make a strong statement in their opening game.

Brett Lee clears air on speculation about MI’s new bowling coach

Speaking on his Youtube channel, Lee revealed that he had not been approached by the franchise and was unaware of where the speculation had originated. During the segment, a fan of Rohit Sharma, known as “The Hitman Fan,” asked Lee if he was set to become MI’s bowling coach. In response, Lee admitted that he found the rumor amusing, especially since former England captain Michael Vaughan had also asked him the same question.

“Look, it’s funny because I actually got a message about this. Michael Vaughan asked me, ‘Is it true that you’re becoming the Mumbai Indians bowling coach?’ I paused for a second, thinking about leading him on, but the truth is—I haven’t been approached. I have no idea where this came from. So, to answer the question—it’s news to me,”

It remains to be seen whether Mumbai will consider approaching Lee in the future, given his vast experience and success as one of the most fearsome fast bowlers in cricket history.

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A strengthened coaching setup for IPL 2025

Meanwhile in October 2024, Mumbai had already appointed Paras Mhambrey as their bowling coach for the IPL 2025 season, adding further strength to their coaching staff. Mhambrey, who previously served as an assistant coach for the franchise, will now work alongside Lasith Malinga, the current bowling coach. His appointment comes as Mumbai look to refine their bowling attack and make a strong impact in the upcoming season.

Mhambrey brings extensive coaching experience to the role, having previously served as the bowling coach of the Indian men’s team during the T20 World Cup 2024. His contributions to Mumbai date back to earlier seasons, where he played a crucial role in the team’s IPL 2013 triumph as well as their Champions League T20 victories in 2011 and 2013. His return to the franchise in an elevated role is expected to provide additional strategic depth to the bowling unit.

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