Aakash Chopra questioned Mumbai Indians’ (MI) team selection before their IPL 2024 game against Rajasthan Royals (RR). The teams will battle at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 22. With 6 points from 7 matches, MI rank 7th. But beating RR will tie them with teams at 8 points.
In a video posted to his YouTube account, Chopra stated that the Mumbai Indians are playing with essentially nine players since they haven’t been able to fully utilize Mohammad Nabi and Romario Shepherd.
“They have decided that they will play cricket with nine people, which is beyond my understanding. You are not getting Nabi to bat or bowl. Are you playing Nabi just as a No. 8 or No. 9 batter? You don’t wish at all to get him to bowl. You don’t get the confidence at all to bowl him.”
“If you are not going to bowl him, think of someone else. Romario Shepherd’s bowling is not working. If that’s the case, are you playing him also for batting? Look within a little. You just got saved by the skin of your teeth in the last match. Your bowling is looking extremely ordinary barring Jasprit Bumrah.”
Aakash Chopra
Nabi’s contribution has been minimal, with a mere six overs across four games. In contrast, Shepherd has shouldered a greater burden, delivering ten overs at a concerning economy rate of 12.90 over the span of five matches.
“I will go with Rohit Sharma” – Aakash Chopra on Mumbai Indians players to watch out for
Aakash Chopra has named Rohit Sharma as the first Mumbai Indians player to watch out for in Monday’s encounter.
“I will go with Rohit Sharma. Trent Boult will be there in front of him for sure but it’s payback week. If you were dismissed for a first-ball duck last time, open Trent Boult’s nuts and bolts this time. Considering the form Rohit Sharma is in, I am thinking he should take down the opposition.”
Aakash Chopra
For the first time, the cricketer-turned-commentator expects Suryakumar Yadav to strike twice in a row.
“My second player is Suryakumar Yadav. Till now – zeros on odd days and he goes big on even days. If you go by that logic, it’s an odd day now, but I am thinking Suryakumar Yadav is too good to fail. A pattern cannot be created.”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra identified Jasprit Bumrah as the Mumbai Indians’ key bowler against the Rajasthan Royals.
“My third player is, of course, Jasprit Bumrah. He has an app to convert the match into a 16-over affair. No one is able to score more than 20-22 runs in his four overs and he picks up two-three wickets. He is that kind of a player. If you keep him wicketless, you can score even 180 in the remaining 16 overs.”
Aakash Chopra
Jasprit Bumrah is the Purple Cap bearer for IPL 2024. The MI seamer has 13 dismissals in seven games, with an excellent economy rate of 5.96.