IPL 2021: Scott Styris feels Mumbai Indians made a mistake by playing Marco Jansen; explains the reason

The opening game of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore saw the defending champions handing the debut IPL cap to the young South African speedster Marco Jansen. Though Mumbai lost the game by two wickets, Jansen gained headlines in the cricket fraternity owing to his dream debut in the T20 Extravaganza. 

Bowling against RCB’s star-studded batting line-up, the 20-year-old conceded just 28 runs in his four overs while bowling at an economy of 7. While Jansen named Australia’s explosive power-hitter Glenn Maxwell as his maiden IPL wicket, he was also successful in sending Shahbaz Ahmed back to the pavilion later in the game.

Former New Zealand batsman Scott Styris seemed impressed with the South African pacer as he lavished praises on him saying that that he is incredibly impressive and will shine bright in the IPL in the coming years. The veteran was also amazed by the pace of Jansen as one of his deliveries clocked around 143mph.

“I thought it was a phenomenal performance. I thought he is incredibly impressive and the reason for that is not about the simple factor that he gets bounce because he is six foot eight, which is what you expect. He touched 143mph, which is a serious pace. He is going to get bounce if he has got pace. And he started, on that pitch, to bowl the slower balls as well,” Scott Styris said while speaking on Star Sports show Cricket Connected.

MI might have to pay big bucks for Jansen in mega auction, feels Styris

Though Styris spoke highly of the left-arm seamer, he feels that playing Marco in IPL 2021 is a bad decision as he has now become a focal point of discussion in the cricket fraternity. The veteran believes that Mumbai should have reserved the pacer for the next year as he has the ability to play for a long time just like Lasith Malinga. 

With the mega-auction scheduled next year, the renowned cricket analyst is of the view that MI will now have to shell out a huge sum of money for Jansen as he will have a lot of franchises going behind him. “But in some ways, I think this is a bad move for Mumbai Indians to pick up Marco Jansen right now, because now, as we are doing, we are talking about it, everybody is talking about it. 

“And with the possibility of a major auction next year, then I think Mumbai may have to suddenly pay up big bucks because they are not going to keep him. So, I would suggest, to think a little bit long-term, maybe put him on the ice this year and Mumbai Indians could have swept in next year having for a long time like Lasith Malinga,” Scott Styris signed off.