IPL 2021: Mumbai Indians Can Abandon Left-Right Batting Combination At Least For A Couple Of Games: Sanjay Manjrekar

Cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Majrekar asked Mumbai Indians team management to give up the tactic of right-left batting combinations for a couple of games.

On Sunday, MI were skittled down to 111 by RCB as the latter won by 54 runs at the Dubai International stadium.

Glenn Maxwell and Yuzvendra Chahal control Mumbai Indians middle-order

Mumbai Indians were in a commanding position to chase 166 as openers Rohit Sharma (43) and Quinton de Kock (24) had set the tone with their brisk partnership of 57 runs before leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal broke the stand by picking the wicket of the South African batsman.

Ishan Kishan was promoted up the order at no.3 as RCB skipper Virat Kohli introduced Glenn Maxwell in the bowling attack. Maxwell kept his captain’s faith as he got the big wicket of the Mumbai Indians skipper on the final ball of the 10th over.

After Rohit’s departure, Mumbai Indians middle-order slumped atrociously as Maxwell and Chahal got wickets at regular sessions before purple-cap holder Harshal Patel bagged a hat-trick in the 17th over to script a marvellous comeback in the game.

MI might want to dump the left-hand right-hand combination: Sanjay Manjrekar

Manjrekar feels that the mindset of Mumbai Indians to continue with right-left batters at the crease isn’t helping them at the moment and they should set up the batting order according to the batter’s calibre.

“It’s a pretty unique scenario where they’ve got their three main players- Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and to an extent Krunal Pandya- looking really off-colour. So, they might want to dump the left-hand right-hand combination,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.

“What happened today is because there was always a left-hander in that middle stage as a part of their left-right combo tactic, allowed Maxwell to bowl four overs. The left-hander was there because there was a leg-spinner operating, waiting to make his life difficult. 

“But Chahal bowled a googly to get Kishan out. So, the leggie has another delivery that will make it tough for the lefty. I would request MI to send batters as per their self-confidence at the moment. No point in sending Krunal, who’s feeling the pressure. Maybe someone like Pollard could come up and MI can abandon the left-right combo at least for a couple of games,” Manjrekar added.

Mumbai Indians lost their third game in the trot and will have to win all their remaining matches to keep their chances of qualifying for playoffs alive.

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