'Can't put a finger and say why he hasn't taken wickets': Jayawardene backs Bumrah amid bowling woes
New Delhi, April 17
After Mumbai Indians' fourth consecutive loss, head coach Mahela Jayawardene offered a staunch defense of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for not being among the wickets so far in five matches and said "he can't put a finger and 'say why he hasn't taken wickets.'"
In five matches so far, Bumrah has struggled to make an impact as he has conceded 164 runs and remained wicketless. In the match against Punjab Kings on Thursday, he leaked runs at an economy rate of 10.20, conceding 41 runs in his four-over quota.
"Boom is bowling well. We are not putting pressure in the power play. They (oppositions) know they don't need to take risks against Boom. We have tried a few things, which he trying as well. They are batting well. Can't put a finger and say why he hasn't taken wickets," Jayawardene said at the post-match press conference.
Bumrah has also been bowling at a marginally reduced pace, and Jayawardene attributed it to workload. "I think initially because he had a slight niggle... we wanted to build him up, over the last few games his speeds have gone up, we've looked at all that, so he's very comfortable," he added.
Despite Quinton de Kock's century (112), MI were restricted to 195/6. In response, PBKS were once again powered by a blazing start. Prabhsimran Singh continued his rich vein of form, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 80 off just 39 deliveries, registering his second consecutive half-century.
At the other end, skipper Shreyas Iyer complemented him perfectly with a composed fifty, guiding the innings with assurance. The chase was wrapped up emphatically in just 16.3 overs for the loss of three wickets
Jayawardene further admitted that the team lacked penetration on different surfaces, and that is where they need to work.
"But as a unit, we have lacked that penetration in different surfaces and that is where we need to work and see what we can do. It's on every one of us to see how we can be better. I know we are playing good cricket. We are not like taken out completely, but other teams are much better, clinical.
"Their confidence is high as well when they have those kind of starts. We just need to control phases we can control. The onus is not just on one individual. As a franchise, as a team management, we need to do things better to get into some rhythm and get some wins under our belt to give us that confidence," said Jayawardene.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I appreciate Jayawardene defending his player, but "can't put a finger on it" isn't good enough from a head coach. They're paid to figure it out. Is it the plans, the field settings, or just a mental block? The analysis needs to be sharper.
The workload management point is crucial. Bumrah has been playing non-stop for India. Maybe he's just fatigued and protecting his body. MI should have managed his overs better in the initial matches. Hope he finds his rhythm soon for the T20 World Cup!
Watching from the UK. It's fascinating how a single player's form can define a team's fortunes in the IPL. Bumrah's unusual action makes him a genius, but perhaps batsmen have finally decoded him? The game evolves so fast.
Yaar, it's simple. If the opposition doesn't need to take risks against your main bowler, you have already lost the psychological battle. MI's think tank needs to be more aggressive. Bumrah needs to bowl more attacking lines, even if it means going for runs.
Four losses in a row is not just about Bumrah. The batting collapsed after De Kock's century, and the other bowlers were equally expensive. It's a team sport. Putting all the onus on one player, even a star like Boom, is unfair.
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