Mumbai Indians (MI) have no plans to rest star pacer Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the T20 World Cup, despite being eliminated from the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs. Batting coach Kieron Pollard stated that the team’s focus remains on finishing the IPL strongly.
Pollard emphasized that resting Bumrah is not a priority at this stage, as the team aims to maintain its momentum and end the season on a high note. He acknowledged that the T20 World Cup is an important event, but stressed that the team’s immediate focus is on the remaining IPL matches.
“I certainly haven’t had any discussions about that,” Pollard said when asked about the possibility of resting Bumrah. “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.”
Pollard also discussed the challenges of coaching an all-rounder like Suryakumar Yadav, who is known for his aggressive batting style. He explained that the key is to balance Yadav’s attacking instincts with the need for discipline and adaptability to different match situations.
“He’s one, who, by nature, instinctively, is very aggressive. He wants to take the bowler’s 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.
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) assistant coach Simon Helmot praised Yadav’s exceptional innings, which helped MI chase down a target of 174 with ease. Helmot acknowledged that Yadav is a world-class batter who will have a significant impact in the T20 World Cup.
“On some days you just have to take your hat off and say well played and well played to him. He’s an exceptional cricketer and he’s always going to demand a spot in the Indian team and I’m sure he’ll have an influence in the World Cup,” Helmot said.
Despite the loss, Helmot highlighted the positives for SRH, including maintaining their fourth position in the IPL points table. He emphasized the importance of quickly moving on from the defeat and focusing on the upcoming match against Lucknow Super Giants.
