Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya has come under intense criticism after his tactics were exposed by the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) batters during their IPL 2024 match on Wednesday. SRH went down in history as they smashed the biggest ever team total in the history of the IPL. The Pat Cummins-led side registered 277/3, breaking the previous IPL best of 263-5 set by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2013. MI’s 17-year-old South African pacer Kwena Maphaka conceded 66 runs in four overs.
Jasprit Bumrah was the most economical bowler for MI, conceding 36 runs of his quota with one wicket in his bag.
However, he only threw one over on the powerplay. He was brought back into the attack only in the 13th over, but by then SRH was already 173/3.
Former SRH head coach Tom Moody criticized Hardik for not using his “best bowler” in Bumrah.
“Where is Jasprit Bumrah? The game is almost over and your best bowler has only bowled ONE over!”, Moody posted on X.
Where is Jasprit Bumrah?? The game is almost over and your best bowler has only bowled ONE! #SRHvMI
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) March 27, 2024
After the match, Moody said Hardik had made a mistake by starving Bumrah in the powerplay.
“One of the priorities in power play cricket is wickets and he is your best wicket-taker and he will always be your best wicket-taker and for him to be deprived of that opportunity and for Mumbai to be deprived of that opportunity to try and get the flow of this attack. doesn’t seem right,” Moody said on ESPNcricinfo.
Moody further praised Bumrah and labeled him as the best bowler in the format.
“If you have the best bowler in this format in the world, if not all formats in the world, then he is certainly this format in the world and then he is your favorite person. If he has to bowl one, you know, in the first 10 overs. I totally understand if they want to use a few swing bowling options in the first or second over, I understand that. But for me, Jasprit Bumrah has to bowl two overs in the powerplay purely because of what he brings to the table ” he added.
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