Mumbai Indians’ perplexing tactics in their record-breaking IPL loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad have drawn criticism from former Australia captain Steve Smith. Smith expressed bewilderment over the decision to limit premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah to just six deliveries up until the 13th over of the match.
Sunrisers Hyderabad posted the highest ever IPL total of 277/3, powered by a stunning display of power-hitting. Despite an equally aggressive response from Mumbai Indians, they fell short by 31 runs.
Smith questioned the timing of Bumrah’s introduction into the attack, stating that he should have been brought back earlier to stem the flow of runs. “I was perplexed with some of their bowling changes in the first innings for Mumbai. Bumrah bowled in the fourth over, he went for 5 and then we didn’t see him again till the 13th over when they were on 173,” Smith said.
He emphasized that Bumrah’s late reintroduction rendered him ineffective. “All the damage had been done, you needed your best bowler to be coming back and take some wickets in that period and I think they missed a trick there bringing him back only in the 13th over.”
Smith believes that Bumrah’s absence from the attack allowed Hyderabad to accumulate a massive total. “I think he got a few things wrong, and that was the main one for me. I mean you can’t have one of the best bowlers in the world bowling one over.”
He suggested that Bumrah should have been utilized more aggressively, even if it meant taking risks. “When the ball is going around like that, you’ve just got to bring your best bowler back earlier than you would have liked. It’s just about adapting on the go and I’d have almost bowled Bumrah out by the 15th, 16th over, try to get some wickets, if he gets wickets, you slow the rate down anyway.”
Smith acknowledged the extraordinary power-hitting contest that unfolded, with a total of 38 sixes hit. “It was an incredible game.”
Another former cricketer, Brian Lara, praised Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma for his blistering 23-ball 63. “Abhishek Sharma is one of my favorite young batters…He can hit it, he’s not a big muscular guy, but when he hits the ball it stays hit. I think his was a special knock today,” Lara said.
