"Bumrah should have bowled…" - Former Australian pacer Brett Lee criticizes Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya

Brett Lee slammed Mumbai Indians for not using Jasprit Bumrah in the first over against SRH.

Thousands of people on social media have been observed questioning Mumbai Indians’ (MI) approach in the two games they played so far in the Indian Premier League (IPL). New recruit and captain Hardik Pandya has been booed wherever he plays, while his tactics have been criticized by many from fans to stalwarts. To add to the fire, former Australian pacer Brett Lee also fired some shots at Pandya’s decisions.

One of the IPL’s most successful teams, Mumbai Indians have started their IPL 2024 campaign on a low. The franchise lost to neighbours Gujarat Titans in the first game. Three days after the loss, MI suffered another defeat against SRH by 31 runs.

The second loss was a shambolic one for the five-time champions, as they leaked the highest-ever total (277) in IPL history. The innings which exposed all the loopholes in the Mumbai Indians bowling attack saw every bowler of the side getting punished. 

Things might have been different for Mumbai Indians, had skipper Hardik Pandya been wise with his choices. At least, former Australian pace bowler Brett Lee feels so. 

Lee took on the MI think-tank during the post-match show on Jio Cinema for their poor display, saying, “I think Mumbai Indians got their bowling wrong… Jasprit Bumrah should have bowled the first over. In the last two games when Jasprit Bumrah has come onto bowl, they’ve none for 42 and today, they were none for 42 again when he came onto bowl.”

Of all the bowlers having their worst day in that forgetful innings, Jasprit Bumrah was the brightest. In fact, he was the only bowler whose economy didn’t touch double digits. Bumrah went for 36 runs in his four overs. 

Lee criticized not bringing on Bumrah to bowl the first over, as it was a repeated mistake. In the first game, captain Pandya himself took the responsibility to start bowling while the infamous second game saw debutant Kwena Maphaka being burdened with the task. It would be expected from the Mumbai Indians think tank to take wiser calls and make a strong comeback.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket for IPL 2024 Live Score & IPL Points Table,  on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.