IPL 2024: Their bowling is poor beyond Jasprit Bumrah – Brian Lara picks reason for MI’s loss to CSK

Legendary Brian Lara reckons Mumbai Indians’ bowling is poor beyond Jasprit Bumrah. The gun fast bowler went wicketless in his quota of four overs against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, Sunday and conceded 27 runs.

Thus, Bumrah conceded his runs at an economy rate of 6.80 but the rest of the MI bowlers (barring Mohammad Nabi) conceded their runs at more than 8.50.

Meanwhile, Bumrah has been in terrific form in the ongoing IPL 2024, taking 10 wickets in six matches at an average of 14.60 and a brilliant economy rate of 6.08. But MI has failed to come up with a collective show as Bumrah has lacked support from the other end.

In fact, Gerald Coetzee, Hardik Pandya, Piyush Chawla, and Akash Madhwal have all conceded their runs at an economy rate of more than 10 in IPL 2024.

“I think when we look at Mumbai Indians, a lot of people have them as favourites, simply because they were batting so well, they came, and they scored 230 runs, they chased on 196, made it look very easy, 15 overs, so on that fact I think, we pick them as favourites for this game, but their bowling is poor. Beyond Jasprit Bumrah, there was no one to actually support them in that bowling attack, and the CSK batters took them apart,” Lara told Star Sports.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya was taken for three sixes in the final over by MS Dhoni. Lara feels it is crucial for MI to find the right bowlers.

“We had dot balls at the time, we thought that MI were supposed to accelerate, they didn’t. So for me, Hardik Pandya had it tough. I think he turned himself in the last couple of over, the master did, you know, three sixes in the last 4-5 balls, but they’ve got to find a couple of bowlers, match-winning bowlers,” Lara added.

Mumbai Indians will next take on Punjab Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh on Thursday.