Virender Sehwag, known for his blunt cricketing analysis, didn’t hold back when discussing MI’s star-studded lineup post-IPL 2024. Drawing a cinematic analogy, Virender Sehwag urged MI’s big names to step up. There were a lot of internal issues in MI’s camp which were evident during the matches as the team was quite divided.
Virender Sehwag, a legend known for his aggressive batting and fearlessness at the crease, had a remarkable career in Indian cricket. His journey began with a bang – he became the 11th Indian to score a century on his Test debut, setting the tone for a career filled with audacious strokeplay.
Sehwag went on to accumulate over 8500 runs in Tests and 8000 runs in ODIs, leaving a trail of tormented bowlers and exhilarating innings in his wake. He was a key member of India’s victorious teams in the 2002 Champions Trophy, the 2007 T20 World Cup, and the unforgettable 2011 Cricket World Cup. In recognition of his immense contribution to the sport, Sehwag was rightfully inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2023.
Despite their star-studded lineup, MI finds themselves at the bottom of the points table, managing only four wins in 13 matches. Hardik Pandya assumed captaincy from Rohit Sharma before the 2024 IPL season, but both he and the team have struggled. Pandya has averaged under 19 with the bat and conceded over 10.50 runs per over. Rohit’s performance hasn’t been much better, except for his century against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), with an average of under 30 and no other scores above 50.
MI vs LSG
The 67th match of IPL 2024 saw the Mumbai Indians (MI) take on the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The match, though not impacting the playoffs for either team, held significance for MI as it marked the conclusion of their season.
LSG, batting first, endured a shaky start with three early wickets lost. However, the tide turned dramatically thanks to a spectacular knock by Nicholas Pooran. Pooran’s explosive 75 runs off just 29 balls, along with a steady contribution of 55 runs from KL Rahul, propelled LSG to a formidable total of 214 runs.
MI, opting to bowl first, began their chase brightly with a strong opening partnership. But their hopes were dashed as the middle order crumbled, losing wickets rapidly. While a valiant effort by Naman Dhir (62 runs off 28 balls) offered a brief spark, it wasn’t enough. LSG’s bowlers tightened their grip in the later stages, restricting MI to 196 runs and securing an 18-run victory.
What Virender Sehwag Said
In an interview with Cricbuzz prior to MI’s final match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Sehwag employed a Bollywood comparison to address the star players of MI.
He said,
“Tell me something. Having Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan in one film won’t guarantee a hit. Will it? You will have to perform, right? You need a good script. Similarly, all these big names will have to come together and perform on the ground. Rohit Sharma scored one century and MI lost. Where are the rest of the performances?,”
“Ishan Kishan played the entire season and he couldn’t last beyond the Powerplay. Only two names are certainties at this stage for MI – Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav. They will be the top two names retained. And if it then boils down to the third or fourth option, we will see,”
Kishan has also had a disappointing season with the bat, managing to score 306 runs at an average of 23.53 in 13 games.
Despite MI’s struggles, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah have been standout performers. Yadav boasts an average of over 38 at a strike rate of nearly 170, while Bumrah has taken 20 wickets with an economy rate of under 6.50.
Former Indian Batter Manoj Tiwary On Player Retention By MI
Echoing Virender Sehwag’s sentiments, former Indian batsman Manoj Tiwary suggested that MI should only retain Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav.
Tiwary urged the franchise to appoint one of the aforementioned two as captain. He also believed that MI should refrain from retaining Tim David or any other overseas player.
Tiwary commented,
“I am also looking at Bumrah and SKY as the two players who will be retained by Mumbai Indians. No one beyond them, and no foreign players either. Tim David has not lived up to the hype. My advice to the management would be to retain just two players – Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah – and make one of the two captains. I am not keeping Rohit either because, looking at him, it appears he doesn’t want to be retained,”
David has struggled to deliver the finishing blow for MI, except for the occasional innings, despite maintaining decent statistics with an average of 30.12 and a strike rate of 158.55.
Also Read: IPL 2024: Virender Sehwag Queries Rohit Sharma’s Role in Mumbai Indians- “When Has He Performed?”