KKR vs MI: Massive update arrives on Jasprit Bumrah's availability for future IPL 2024 matches
Updated - 07 May 2024, 12:11 PM
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Mumbai Indians (MI) batting coach Kieron Pollard has stated that there are no plans to rest Jasprit Bumrah despite the team's slim chances of making it to the playoffs. Kieron Pollard highlighted that the team's primary focus is the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 and not the T20 World Cup 2024.
The Hardik Pandya-led team secured a seven-wicket victory over SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday, May 6. Suryakumar Yadav scored an unbeaten 102 runs off just 51 balls in a 174-run chase. Surya was named Player of the Match for his brilliant batting performance.
The Mumbai team ended their four-match losing streak and recorded their fourth victory in 12 league stage games. The MI team moved to ninth place in the 10-team points table with eight points and a net run rate (NRR) of -0.212. They are virtually out of the playoff race in the ongoing tournament.
Fans have been urging the team to prioritize the T20 World Cup by giving key players like Jasprit Bumrah a break. Bumrah is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, taking 18 wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 6.21. He took one wicket for 23 runs in the recent game against Hyderabad.
Haven't Had Any Discussions About That - Kieron Pollard
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Kieron Pollard stated that they haven't had any discussions about resting Jasprit Bumrah. Pollard stated that the team's priority is to finish the IPL and not focus too much on future events like the World Cup.
"I certainly haven't had any discussions about that. I don't think that's my role and function at this point in time. But let's see what happens. We are all here to play an entire IPL. Sometimes when we think too far ahead of different things, thinking about World Cups, all these things could affect performances even from before the team was selected," Pollard said.
"For us and in our camp, the most important thing is finishing off the IPL and let's see what happens after that. When he leaves the IPL and he goes into the Indian team, I think that's where that concession will take place," Pollard added.
Mumbai is scheduled to play against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their next match at the Eden Gardens on Saturday, May 11. Their last IPL 2024 match is against the Lucknow Super Giants at home on May 17. Bumrah will have at least a week-long break before joining the World Cup squad.
Suryakumar Yadav Is Very Aggressive - Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard described Suryakumar Yadav as naturally aggressive, stating that he wants to challenge bowlers. Pollard emphasized the importance of understanding the match situation, especially when facing a new ball that moves around.
"He's one, who, by nature, instinctively, is very aggressive. He wants to take the bowlers on more often than not. At times it's just a matter of understanding the situation and respecting the new ball when it's moving around,” Pollard said.
Also read: T20 World Cup 2024: "Very poor English.."- Yuvraj Singh on Rohit Sharma's initial impressions
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