'Suryakumar Yadav's form has gone south' - Aakash Chopra analyses MI’s batting issues ahead of KKR clash

Mumbai Indians have had a lacklustre campaign in the ongoing IPL (Indian Premier League). With 10 games played, Mumbai Indians have only managed to win three matches and lose the remaining seven. Many experts have come forward to opine that MI’s batting unit has been underperforming, which is the reason for their losses. 

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra was of a similar opinion. With MI all set to take on Kolkata Knight Riders in their next game, Chopra opined Mumbai Indians’ top-order has let them down in the last three away games. 

Chopra also highlighted the form of ace batter Suryakumar Yadav, reflecting on how he was dismissed early in all of the last three matches, and the story was the same for Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan.

"When they were on the road - Rajasthan, Delhi and Lucknow, they lost in all three places, and the thing that used to be their strength disappointed them in all three places. I am not talking about bowling at all. If your batting is not scoring runs, how can it be your strength?" Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

"The batting had a lot of might but that hasn't been seen. Suryakumar Yadav's form has gone south. He was dismissed early in all three games - Rajasthan, Delhi and Lucknow. It was the same story for Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan as well," he added.

Interestingly, Suryakumar has scored 46 runs in his last three innings, whereas Ishan Kishan has amassed 52 runs in his last three matches, with Rohit Sharma not reaching double figures in his last three outings. 

With six points in 10 matches, Mumbai Indians sit in ninth place in the standings and will have to win all of their remaining matches for a chance at making the playoffs. However, facing Kolkata Knight Riders would not be an easy outing for MI, as KKR sits in second place in the standings with 12 points in nine matches.