Ahead of the upcoming clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), former Australian captain Aaron Finch has voiced his concerns about MI's bowling performance, particularly emphasizing a "lack of depth and consistency" beyond their star bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
During MI's recent match against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings, their bowling unit faced a tough time. Despite utilizing seven different bowling options, players like Akash Madhwal, skipper Hardik Pandya, and Romario Shepherd struggled, conceding runs at an economy rate of over 12.
Even in their previous game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on April 11, where all bowlers leaked runs at an economy rate of over 7 or 10, Bumrah stood out as the only bowler who kept his economy rate low at 5.25 runs per over.
Speaking on Star Sports Cricket Live, Finch shared his insights on how Mumbai Indians can bounce back to winning ways, stating, "First and foremost, I believe the captain needs to find form and consistency with both bat and ball. We've witnessed him bowling in some matches and not in others, so ideally, achieving consistency in both aspects will be crucial. Moreover, their bowling lineup, apart from Jasprit Bumrah, needs to exhibit better quality and consistency."
Finch also commended former MI captain Rohit Sharma for his fearless approach to the game. Despite Rohit's remarkable century against CSK, it wasn't adequate to secure a win for his team.
"One aspect I admire about Rohit Sharma currently is his fearless brand of cricket. He demonstrated this throughout the 50-over World Cup, and he continues to do so now. He's taking the game head-on, aiming for maximum impact, which will undoubtedly uplift the rest of the Mumbai Indians squad. The partnership he forms with Ishan Kishan at the start of their innings can set the tone for the entire batting lineup. If they can find momentum in the latter half of the IPL, it will immensely benefit the team," added Finch.
MI, presently occupying the ninth spot in the points table with four points from six matches, is set to face Punjab Kings at Mullanpur on Thursday.
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