Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has given a couple of major reasons for the disappointing IPL 2022 campaign so far for the Mumbai Indians. The five-time title holders have lost all of their first three matches and are now languishing at the bottom pile of the points table.
Mumbai Indians had looked in a comfortable situation to win their first match versus Delhi Capitals but a late partnership from Axar and Lalit took the game away. After that they were blown away by a century from Rajasthan’s Jos Buttler and a 14-ball fifty from KKR’s Pat Cummins.
Ravi Shastri opined that the absence of some of their star performers from previous seasons and Jasprit Bumrah’s ineffectiveness this season are the two main reasons for their failures.
“Mumbai Indians had Krunal and Hardik, add Boult there and Bumrah is twice the bowler then, it’s a double-edged sword then. That side now is feeling the heat because it lacks that firepower to push,” Ravi Shastri told ESPNcricinfo.
While Trent Boult regularly used to give Mumbai Indians wickets in the powerplay, there has been no such support for Bumrah this season. The replacements of Hardik and Krunal in the bowling department – Basil Thampi and Daniel Sams – have both been highly expensive.
The other team who is struggling is the defending champions Chennai Super Kings who have also lost their first three matches.
Ravi Shastri believes that CSK banked too much on their experienced players and bought them back but – barring Robin Uthappa – others have not lived up to the expectations. Also, a key factor in CSK’s struggles this year, Shastri pointed out, is the poor form of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who registered three single-digit scores.
“Even Chennai to an extent. They had too much of experience, by 12 months or 8 months down the line you need some youth. You need some exuberance of youth there. What kept that experience going last year was the flair of Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top, who had a brilliant season, was consistent and took a lot of pressure off the seniors,” the former India coach opined.
