“They need someone to bowl with the new ball” Virender Sehwag urges Mumbai Indians to play Jaydev Unadkat
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has opined about the current bowling resources of Mumbai Indians and advised them to include Jaydev Unadkat in the playing 11.
It has been a difficult start of the season for five-time champions as they languish 9th in the points table with three losses in three matches. Their situation much has to do with the abysmal performances with the ball. Barring Jasprit Bumrah, no other bowler has looked penetrative enough to threaten the opposition.
Basil Thampi, Tymal Mills, and Daniel Sams haven’t lived up to the billing hence Virender Sehwag has urged Mumbai Indians to play Jaydev Unadkat.
Jaydev Unadkat can partner Jasprit Bumrah: Virender Sehwag
Jaydev Unadkat is one of the most experienced pacers in the domestic circuit and he is also one of the only two players to take two five-wicket hauls in the history of the IPL. Sehwag feels Unadkat should not be warming the bench at Mumbai Indians anymore and he should be given an opportunity.
“Until last year, MI had someone like a Nathan Coulter-Nile, who would play if a pacer wasn’t performing well or was injured. If you look at MI’s bench strength now, it’s like the management will think twice to include those sitting out of the XI. The likes of Mayank Markande, Jaydev Unadkat, Riley Meredith, and Arshad Khan are sitting out. Besides, even guys such as Sanjay Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Hrithik Shokeen, and others aren’t the type of names who can replace Basil Thampi or Daniel Sams,” Virender Sehwag opined on Cricbuzz.
Sehwag also added that Mumbai Indians’ bowling stocks are weak at the moment and Unadkat is their best bet.
“Of them all, I think only Unadkat is the one, who has experience and did well one season for Pune (Rising Pune Supergiants). He was sold for some 15-16 crore but even then, his next season wasn’t that great. So he is the only one who looks potent enough to partner Bumrah. Barring him, there aren’t too many others. MI don’t have a bowler who can bowl three overs in the Powerplay and they can’t afford to make Bumrah bowl three overs. MI’s bowling stocks appear weak so their batters need to work hard this time around,” concluded Virender Sehwag.
Sehwag got Unadkat’s price tag wrong as he was sold for a sum of INR 11.5 crore to Rajasthan Royals after an impressive season in 2017. However, the left-arm gentle quick has been on a downward spiral ever since.
With Mumbai Indians struggling badly in the bowling department, it would be interesting to see if the Blues give Jaydev Unadkat an opportunity or not.
