Bengaluru: Mumbai Indians will be without the services of their ace bowler Lasith Malinga in their opening match of IPL 6 against Royal Challengers Banaglore here on Thursday.
According to reports, Malinga will miss the opening match scheduled to be played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium as he has been suffering from an aching back which he sustained during Sri Lanka's recent T20 series against Bangladesh.

"Malinga’s back injury has ensured that he will not be able to take part in the first game of this edition but he will be back in action when Mumbai Indians will play their first home match of the season," a MI official informed.

In Malinga's absence, Munaf Patel, Nathan Coultier-Nile, Mitchell Johnson is expected to lead the bowling attack.