Mumbai Indians’ (MI) top-order failed to make a mark in their IPL 2023 opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Chinnaswamy Stadium last Sunday (April 2).
The likes of Rohit Sharma (1), Ishan Kishan (10), Cameron Green (5) and Suryakumar Yadav (15) got out cheaply as MI were reduced to 48/4.
Thanks to Tilak Varma’s 46-ball 84*, the five-time champions posted 171/7 on the board, which was chased by RCB with eight wickets in hand and 22 deliveries to spare.
Ahead of MI’s second game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday (April 8), batting coach Kieron Pollard said he is expecting the batters to fire in unison.
“I believe all batters have to fire. I do not think we should not single out any individual. Cricket is played with eleven players, and again, the tournament has just started so everyone is just looking to start (on a) high.
“Yes we did not get off to a great start as a batting unit but in the end we managed a decent total in Bangalore. Let us see what happens since we are back at Wankhede,” Pollard said on the eve of the game.
Suryakumar he is currently enduring a lean patch and came into the IPL 2023 on the back of a forgettable ODI series against Australia at home, registering three successive golden ducks.
However, Pollard categorically denied that the team was concerned over the form of Surya, who occupies the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings.
“We have no concerns on Surya’s form, again. I believe you guys make more of it than we do sometimes within the team set up.
“People have bad days and that is unfortunate as cricketers our bad days are highlighted and we keep speaking on and on about it rather than trying to look at the positive or what he has done over the past 18 months or so in cricket as an individual,” Pollard stated.
“We do it on a day-by-day basis and the way he is striking the ball, the way he is training we have got confidence that he will do justice to his talent and we will continue to back him.”
The batting coach said it is important for MI to keep focus on the playing XI that they will field and not worry about the ‘Impact Player’ rule.
“To be honest I have not thought much about the impact player rule. A lot of thoughts have been flying around about it but for me you still have to go out and play cricket, impact or no impact.
“As players you have to make an impact on the field anyway. For us, it is about focusing on what needs to be done from every individual,” Pollard remarked.
(With PTI Inputs)
