The expert Aakash Chopra has pointed out some batting problems with the Mumbai Indians (MI) team. This includes Suryakumar Yadav not scoring many runs recently. This was ahead of their big IPL 2024 game against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Mumbai on Friday, May 3.
The Mumbai Indians have only six points from ten games so far. This puts them ninth in the table. They must win all their last four games to maybe make the playoffs. The team needs to step up their batting big time.
In a YouTube video previewing the MI-KKR match, Aakash Chopra remarked that the Mumbai Indians’ batting, particularly their top three, had failed them in their last three away games.
“When they were on the road – Rajasthan, Delhi and Lucknow, they lost in all three places, and the thing that used to be their strength disappointed them in all three places. I am not talking about bowling at all. If your batting is not scoring runs, how can it be your strength?”
“The batting had a lot of might but that hasn’t been seen. Suryakumar Yadav’s form has gone south. He was dismissed early in all three games – Rajasthan, Delhi and Lucknow. It was the same story for Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan as well.”
Aakash Chopra
Suryakumar got 46 runs total in his last three turns at batting. Ishan Kishan got 52 runs in his last three times batting. Rohit Sharma did not get 10 or more runs in any of his last three turns at batting.
“I am going with Rohit Sharma one more time” – Aakash Chopra on the Mumbai Indians players in focus vs KKR
Aakash Chopra picked Rohit Sharma as the Mumbai Indians player to look at in Friday’s match. The expert picked the common and familiar captain for the very big game.
“If your top three don’t play well, you cannot play well. So I am going with Rohit Sharma one more time. Score runs although there will be a left-arm pacer in front of you, if he is there, because Mitchell Starc is also so expensive. I am hoping Rohit Sharma does well for his, the team, and the Indian fans’ sake.”
Aakash Chopra
The player who became a commentator said that Hardik Pandya needs to do well with both throwing and hitting the ball.
“The second player I am thinking is Hardik Pandya. If I see from India’s perspective, if you have appointed him the vice-captain, the vice-captain 100% plays in the XI, so he has to pick up wickets and bowl well. He has started bowling three to four overs, so I am hoping that he picks up wickets, and also scores some runs.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra stated that both India and the Mumbai Indians require Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah to return to their best.
“The third player – I am split. I am thinking about Suryakumar Yadav and then I will go towards Jasprit Bumrah. You can choose anyone you want. It’s better if runs come from Surya’s bat because if I see the Indian team, only a few players can play a different brand of cricket, and Surya is a very important key member in that.”
“To be fair, Jasprit Bumrah also lost his form in Jaipur, Delhi and Lucknow. Jasprit Bumrah will be important, or else who will stop Sunil Narine? Everyone has made plans to dismiss Sunil Narine with full balls and Bumrah can execute that best.”
Aakash Chopra
Suryakumar got 176 runs in seven innings in IPL 2024. His average was not very high at 25.14. Bumrah got 14 wickets in 10 games. He is the highest wicket-taker for Mumbai Indians this season. But, Jasprit Bumrah only got one wicket in the last three games. He will want to get more wickets against KKR.