Former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth slammed Mumbai Indians for their mundane performance after they suffered a six-wicket loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday.
While MI posted a par score of 243 runs on the board, they were sloppy in the field. Naman Dhir, who is generally a very good fielder, dropped three chances of SRH opener Travis Head, who went on to punish MI. Head eventually went to score a match-winning knock of 76 runs off just 30 balls.
Furthermore, MI didn’t review when Head had edged the ball to wicket-keeper, Ryan Rickelton.
Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “They dropped Travis Head thrice. He was not getting his timing initially. Why is Naman Dhir coming in from the boundary on such a small ground? He had to stay put and take the catch. All were easy catches, and the match was over if he had taken them. How are you not appealing for a clear caught behind? Are you playing for the Fair Play award?”
“Travis Head was in a different zone after these chances. Abhishek Sharma was the one who gave the real impetus. Then Travis Head showed his big-match temperament and batted MI out of the contest.”
Head and Abhishek Sharma added 129 runs off just 52 balls to give a flying start to SRH. Srikkanth reckons the opening alliance was able to put the game to bed.
“The MI bowlers fed the SRH openers with so many outside off-stump deliveries. With Boult and Bumrah, you can’t be giving up 129 off 52 to the opening partnership. That itself sealed the game. The opening partnership finished the game. MI bowled poorly and not to a plan at all. They just fed to SRH’s strengths,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
Srikkanth also questioned Hardik Pandya’s captaincy after the MI skipper decided to back Ashwani Kumar after the left-arm seamer was taken for 20 runs in his first over.
“I don’t know why they gave Ashwani Kumar a second over after his first over went for 20 runs. He just fed Klaasen initially. They should have given Will Jacks a second over the moment Allah Ghazanfar got two wickets. Just because two right-handers were there doesn’t mean Jacks should not bowl. After the powerplay, he wouldn’t have given so many runs.”
Mumbai Indians will next take on arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Saturday.
