Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI) started the 19th season with a win against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, since then, Hardik Pandya's men have suffered four consecutive defeats and have seen a stark dip in form. The team most recently lost to the Punjab Kings in their own backyard.
Speaking about the dip in form, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene said the side is still trying to reinvent and pull them back into the contest. The former Sri Lankan player admitted that bowling is an area where MI has not clicked well as a unit together, but the entire onus does not rest with Hardik Pandya alone.
"I don't think it's just on Hardik, I think it's on every one of us when we are not doing well. It's not an individual. It's pretty
much on me, everyone who is involved in the management and all that, to see how we can be better," Jayawardene said post-match after the PBKS game.
Jayawardene further said that the side is playing good cricket, but still could not finish the game clinically in comparison to the opposition that they are facing. He added that the focus needed to be on controlling the phases of the game while improving their rhythm. The MI head coach believes that a few wins will be a positive step in that direction.
Why Have The Mumbai Indians Been So Much Inconsistent?
According to Jayawardene, a key reason behind the Mumbai Indians' inconsistent performances has been frequent changes in player availability due to injuries and illness. He pointed out that Rohit Sharma missed the match against the Punjab Kings with an injury, while Mitchell Santner, who joined after the season began, was sidelined due to illness. Hardik Pandya also missed the game against the Delhi Capitals as he was unwell.
Jayawardene explained that all four defeats-two at home and two away-had different contexts, with several forced team changes due to unavailable players. He said the management has been trying to make the best use of the available squad, and while there have been encouraging moments in some areas, the bowling unit in particular has struggled to make breakthroughs and put pressure on opposition teams.
He stressed that improving the bowling attack remains a major priority, as MI have been unable to consistently penetrate opposition batting line-ups.
Mumbai Indians' overall bowling form has been underwhelming, with Jasprit Bumrah yet to take a wicket in the first five matches and also conceding runs at over 10 per over against the Punjab Kings. This has raised concerns over whether Bumrah's lack of wickets is increasing pressure on the rest of the bowling attack.
Jayawardene On Bumrah And Rohit Sharma
Jayawardene said Bumrah is bowling well, but MI are failing to create enough pressure in the powerplay, which has limited wicket-taking opportunities.
"I think Bumrah is bowling well - it's just where we are not putting pressure in the powerplay," he said. "They [opposition batters] know they don't need to take too much risk against Bumrah as well, and we have tried a few different things, which he is trying as well, but they are batting well. I can't put a finger on why he's not taken wickets. but as a unit we have lacked that penetration in different surfaces, and that's something that we need to work [on] and see what we need to do. "
He added that Bumrah's early-season dip in pace was due to workload management after a minor niggle, but said he is now fully comfortable and regaining rhythm. "I think initially because he had a slight niggle. we wanted to build him up, over the last few games his speeds have gone up, we've looked at all that, so he's very comfortable. "
Jayawardene also said Bumrah just needs a bit of luck before wickets start flowing. "Sometimes you need a bit of luck as well. I think once he starts taking wickets, he might not be able to stop him doing that. "
On Rohit Sharma's injury, he confirmed a cautious recovery approach. "On Ro, he started running yesterday, [we'll take] day to day to see how he feels," he said.
