“They missed the trick upfront by not bowling Jasprit Bumrah” : Heinrich Klassen points out a strategy blunder by Hardik Pandya
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians put on a spectacle for the fans at the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. Over 520 runs were scored in 40 overs, with the hosts managing to register the highest ever total in an IPL innings.
Sunrisers Hyderabad claimed their first win of the season, winning by 31 runs, after posting a mammoth score of 277 runs. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma started the onslaught, scoring 62 and 63 runs, respectively. As usual, Heinrich Klassen made a complete mockery of the bowling in the death overs, scoring 80 runs off just 34 balls.
The South African batter pointed out to a strategy blunder by Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya. He believes that the visitors did not utilize their marquee bowler Jasprit Bumrah in the powerplay overs. The Indian pacer bowled just one over in the first six overs, as he came back into the attack only in the 13th over.
“I feel they missed the trick upfront by not bowling him (Bumrah) inside the powerplay and we have got the best strikers. They didn’t use their best bowlers. It was incredible to have my best mate with me at the end of the innings who also played a fantastic knock,” Klaasen said in the mid-match presentation.
Did Hardik Pandya miss a trick with Jasprit Bumrah?
Hardik Pandya was hesitant to throw the ball to Jasprit Bumrah whilst Sunrisers Hyderabad were running away with the match. He brought his main bowler back into the attack in the 13th over, when much of the damage was already done.
In the powerplay, Jasprit Bumrah just bowled one over which has certainly raised several questions. Hardik Pandya bowled two overs in the powerplay, with Kwena Maphaka also bowling two overs. Piyush Chawla was handed the sixth over, which was not the best decision to make at that point.
Jasprit Bumrah has demonstrated has ability to pick wickets at any stage of the game. Moreover, Mumbai Indians were in desperate need to at least stop the flow of runs, with Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head going after each and every delivery. This makes us question Hardik Pandya’s decision to hold back his key bowler, when a wicket or two could have certainly helped Mumbai’s case.
