Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra slammed Mumbai Indians after they suffered an eight-wicket loss against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Saturday. Chopra highlighted that the big players like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma have let the franchise down.
Pandya meandered to 18 runs off 23 balls as timing was not his friend in Chennai. Furthermore, SKY and Tilak Varma were dismissed after scoring 21 and five runs respectively.
MI could only manage 159-7 in their 20 overs after electing to bat first and CSK were able to chase down the score with 11 balls to spare after Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma scored fine fifties.
“Surya, you have been very ordinary. It seemed like the form had returned a little this time. You played a few good shots against Noor Ahmad, but then you got out while trying to play a cut shot off Ramakrishna Ghosh’s bowling. Tilak Varma, if that one hundred is kept aside, your numbers are extremely ordinary,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“Hardik Pandya, it’s been more than 100 balls, and you have hit only four sixes. In bowling, you have taken four wickets, and you have an economy of nearly 12. If the big names are not turning up, putting their hand up and getting counted, how will the team do better? The biggest names are Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, and then, barring that century, Tilak Varma. These three names are under scrutiny,” he added.
Chopra highlighted that despite the Impact Player rule in action, Mumbai Indians batting ends at number seven as they don’t have depth in their squad.
“The start was very good. You ruled this match in the first 10 overs. If you are unable to make even 160 after playing well for 10 overs, it means things are very bad. Despite the Impact Player rule, your batting ends at No. 7. You have Krish Bhagat at No. 8 and Trent Boult at No. 9. Even at No. 7, you have Robin Minz,” he said.
The renowned commentator also questioned the team’s decision to drop Ashwani Kumar after one bad performance.
“Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav don’t have form. If you are batting is ending at No. 7 in such a scenario, there is a problem. You made Ashwani Kumar sit out. You could have made Trent Boult sit out if you wanted, and you could have played Sherfane Rutherford. Then you wouldn’t have needed to play Robin Minz, and if you had played him, you needn’t have played Krish Bhagat,” Chopra observed.
Mumbai Indians will next take on Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Monday.
