IPL 2021: Virender Sehwag baffled with MI’s batting approach of sending Ishan Kishan ahead of Surakumar Yadav against PBKS


IPL 2021: Virender Sehwag baffled with MI’s batting approach of sending Ishan Kishan ahead of Surakumar Yadav against PBKS

Virender Sehwag and Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan

The struggle of five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI) continued during their clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) as well. The Rohit Sharma-led side suffered a one-sided defeat by nine wickets in match 17 of the 14th edition of the tournament.

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MI could only post 131/7 on the board at the end of their 20 overs in the first innings. However, they took a strange decision of promoting an out-of-form Ishan Kishan at number three ahead of Suryakumar Yadav who has batted well so far. The southpaw got out for a score of six while consuming 17 balls. On the other hand, Yadav played a steady knock of 33 runs in 27 deliveries. 

Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag questioned MI’s batting order. He opined that the defending champions didn’t make the right decision of pushing down an in-form Suryakumar Yadav at number four.

“The kind of form Suryakumar was in, he hit a fifty earlier, perhaps he could have taken more advantage of the powerplay. See, even he could’ve gotten out early but he had better chances,” Virender Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

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“You are sending someone who hasn’t scored runs in 4 matches with the hope that he will get you runs but you are demoting someone who has scored 2-3 out of your last 4 games. When 2-3 wickets fall quickly then there is pressure on that in-form player too.

“It would have been better had they sent Suryakumar early in the powerplay. He could have given the necessary momentum to the innings,” he added.

‘MI’s big-hitters failed yet again’: Sehwag

Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya
Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya have failed to impress so far in IPL 2021

Virender Sehwag said that Rohit and Yadav batting till the 16th over turned out to be the only good thing for them in the first inning. However, he reckoned that MI’s middle-order failed to provide late fireworks to their side that could have increased their score.

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“The only good thing for MI was that Rohit and Suryakumar batted till the 15-16th over. They thought their big-hitters would play fearless cricket in the backend of the innings but that didn’t happen,” Virender Sehwag concluded.

Also Read | IPL 2021: Suryakumar Yadav reveals why an out-of-form Ishan Kishan was promoted at number three against Punjab Kings