Former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) head coach Tom Moody didn't hold back in his criticism of Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya for not effectively utilizing his premier bowler Jasprit Bumrah during their IPL 2024 clash against SRH.
The high-scoring 8th match of the ongoing IPL 2024 witnessed SRH making history by notching up the highest team total ever recorded in the tournament, posting a formidable 277/3 on the board against MI at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on March 27.
Well, Pandya's captaincy came under intense scrutiny as SRH's batters brutally dominated the MI bowling attack. The 17-year-old South African pacer, Kwena Maphaka, bore the brunt of the onslaught, conceding 66 runs in his four overs. Barring Bumrah, who conceded 36 runs in his 4 overs, all MI bowlers leaked more than 10 runs per over.
However, Moody pointed out Pandya's tactical error in underutilizing Bumrah, who was often regarded as MI's trump card with the ball. He highlighted that when Bumrah was brought back into the attack in the 13th over, SRH was already in a formidable position at 173/3.
Moody took to social media platform X and asked where Bumrah was, as the damage was already done by the SRH, as MI’s best bowler had bowled only one over at that time in Hyderabad.
Tom Moody wrote on X: “Where is Jasprit Bumrah?? Game nearly done and your best bowler has only bowled ONE over! #SRHvMI”
Speaking after the match, Moody elaborated on Pandya's error in utilizing his key asset.
"One of the priorities in powerplay cricket is wickets and he is your best wicket-taker and he always will be your best wicket-taker and for him to be starved of that opportunity and Mumbai to be starved of that opportunity to try to stem the flow of this onslaught. It doesn't seem right," Moody said on ESPNcricinfo.
"When you've got the best bowler in this format in the world if not all formats in the world, he's certainly this format of the world he's your go-to person. For him to bowl one over, you know, in the first 10 overs. I totally get if they want to use a couple of swing bowling options in the first or second over I understand that. But for me, Jasprit Bumrah has to bowl two overs in the powerplay, purely because of what he brings to the table," he added.
