Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes Jasprit Bumrah should be used better by Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma.
MI lost their third match of the season against Kolkata Knight Riders as they were beaten by five wickets at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Wednesday.
While defending 161 runs, MI lost with four overs to spare with Pat Cummins scoring a whirlwind knock of 56 runs off just 15 balls. Meanwhile, Basil Thampi and Daniel Sams were given the new ball by Rohit Sharma as Bumrah and Tymal Mills were held back.
Bumrah was introduced late into the attack by Rohit Sharma as he bowled the fourth over of the innings. It is well known that Bumrah has been magnificent in the death overs as he has a lot of deadly weapons in his armory but Shastri believes one is expected to get a stick in the final five overs.
“I just feel the use of Bumrah has to be better. Sometimes you’re just nor getting the best out of him because you don’t have depth in your bowling. So instead of looking for the wickets, you just keep him for one or two players or for the death (slog overs),” he told Star Sports.
“At the time it doesn’t matter if you’re Bumrah or anyone, you will go for runs. If the batsman is in that kind of mood, if the momentum is with the batting side at that stage, you will go for runs.”
Shastri feels Bumrah should be used in the important overs to get wickets in the early phase of the innings rather than the slog overs.
“You would rather use him to get wickets at important periods, rather than keeping all those overs at the back, waiting for if Russell I’ll give Bumrah. But then, if it’s too late, there’s no Russell, someone else did the job.”
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah was expensive in his spell as he conceded 43 runs in 3.2 overs against Delhi Capitals in the team’s opener of the season. However, the gun fast bowler bounced back in style as he scalped three wickets and gave away only 17 runs in his four overs against Rajasthan Royals.
Shastri believes Bumrah should bowl in the powerplay overs to get help from the surface.
“Bumrah has to be used better, the attacking options have to be used better, you cannot keep them for the tail end of the innings just because there are one or two big hitters in the side. You’ve got to try and knock them over early, try and get some early wickets to put some serious pressure on the opposition. In the first six overs, when there’s a sticky track, a spongy bounce there, there is bounce. You can try and knock over at least three wickets if not more.”
Mumbai Indians will play their next match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Saturday.
