Rohit Sharma Made A Blunder Against CSK: As the Indian Premier League opener rolled out in Chennai Super Kings’ favor with Mumbai’s opening game jinx still on-song, we saw a few brilliant tactical moves that saw Chennai walk away with the bragging rights.
Similarly to contradict the brilliance of technicality, there were a few howlers, being precise captaincy howlers that left Mumbai begging for some reprieve. Despite initial signs of promise from the Mumbai bowlers, things dried u way too early with Rayudu and Du Plessis playing a match-defining partnership that saw them home comfortably with a breezy cameo from Sam Curran in the end.
One of those tactical howlers made by Rohit Sharma was holding Jasprit Bumrah back. This was rightly pointed out by legendary cricket analyst and commentator, Harsha Bhogle. In a tweet of his, he mentioned, “MI holding Bumrah back. That was the reason they play Boult. But a wicket from Bumrah upfront is more important.”
MI holding Bumrah back. That was the reason they play Boult. But a wicket from Bumrah upfront is more important.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 19, 2020
Bumrah had a woeful start to the tournament with his four overs going for a staggering 43 runs which saw him claiming the important scalp of Sam Curran but the damage was already done by then.
We have seen Jasprit Bumrah evolving himself into death over specialists over the years. However, not even for a solitary time did we see Dhoni or Kohli using him much in the middle of waiting for him till the end to get the job done. The calculations were always on spot.
As pointed out by Bhogle, Trent Boult was to ensure the fact that Bumrah gets his quota somewhere in the middle and towards the end. This seems lucrative from the surface but if you have clearly observed Bumrah, it is not his miserly economy rate that gets him going. It is a wicket with which he starts the innings.
I agree with Mr. Bhogle. Bumrah is so dangerous with the new ball and he should be running especially when the opposition is 6 for 2. #MIvCSK #IPL2020 https://t.co/gcJoN1wQOx
— Madhav Sharma (@HashTagCricket) September 19, 2020
To his woes, he didn’t claim a wicket and got smashed all around the park by Curran, Du Plessis, and Rayudu. This dented his confidence and disrupted his flow. He failed to kiss the block and bowled a volley of full-tosses that were addressed to the Promised Land.
Ideally, to get things in motion for the Indian spearhead, Rohit will do well to give those opening overs with the new ball to Bumrah. That will allow him to run in and hit the deck hard, thereby creating an opportunity for him to get that important wicket, which will set the Indian fast bowler in motion.
Despite a good start to the innings, Mumbai slumped down like a house of cards once Saurabh Tiwary returned to the pavilion. James Pattinson gave them some early hopes with the ball moving a good deal but it soon fizzled away to the brilliance of Ambati Rayudu and the persistence of Faf Du Plessis.
This game left a good deal of ground to be covered for Mumbai when they play their second game against another formidable Kolkata Knight Riders who will have the likes of Pat Cummins, the eternal nemesis of Rohit Sharma, Sunil Narine, and Dre Russ who can inflict something far more punishing than Chennai.
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