03 April,2013 09:37 PM IST | | PTI
Lasith Malinga, who has been Mumbai Indians attack's mainstay over the past five editions, will miss his IPL team's opener due to a sore back which he sustained during Sri Lanka's recent limited overs series against Bangladesh.
Malinga's last competitive match was against Bangladesh during the T20 International at Pallekele.
"Malinga will miss the first match of this season due to the on-going treatment for sore back. He was scheduled to join MI camp in Bangalore yesterday but now he will only join the squad in Mumbai for the team's first home match," a MI official informed today.
In Malinga's absence, Munaf Patel, Nathan Coultier-Nile, Mitchell Johnson are likely to lead the bowling attack.