Give chance to Arjun, maybe Tendulkar name will bring MI good luck: Mohammad Azharuddin

The Mumbai Indians (MI) have got off to a disappointing start in their IPL 2022 campaign with no wins in five appearances and are languishing at bottom of the table. The team is currently facing the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their sixth league match of the season. The former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin has given his suggestions to MI team management and discussed the deficiency in both departments.

On being asked about changes MI need to make in order to get back to winning ways, Azharuddin reckoned that the team can provide an opportunity to Arjun Tendulkar, who has been doing well, and they have been picking him up in every auction as well. He further questioned that if the team has shelled out so much money for Tim David, then why he has been not featuring and was dropped from the side.

He pointed the fact that Tim David has been striking the ball at 150 in the BBL, and is a terrific player. He felt it is an injustice to some players if they are warming the benches throughout the season.

“You have to try some new players, like you can give a chance to Arjun as well, who has been doing well, maybe Tendulkar name on the field can bring them good luck. If you have picked David for such a high price, and if he is not playing, there is no use of him being in the squad. If you have players, you just can’t make them sit along, that will be injustice to the player as well.

“If the things are not happening, they can try different players, as most of the teams have not played them, and the team can succeed,” said Azharuddin on Sky247.net presents ‘Not Just Cricket Show’ on CricTracker.

Bumrah needs to bowl first over of the match: Mohammad Azharuddin

Azharuddin reckoned that the team did well to acquire the services of talented batters in the auction, but have kept their bowling quite weak. He felt that it is not right for the team to put too much pressure on the pacer Jasprit Bumrah. He further went on to say that Bumrah needs to bowl an opening over for MI to have a greater chance of picking wickets in the powerplay overs.

“They have packed their batting, but have left a void in the bowling unit. They are over-dependent on Bumrah, but you can not put so much pressure on him, he is also a human. Sometimes he can go for runs as well. They can try him in the 1st over itself, because if he comes in the 2nd or 3rd over, the batters have settled down a bit and can go for maybe 20 off two overs, and it can have a big impact,” Azharuddin added.