Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised questions about the strategy of Mumbai Indians regarding playing XI in the ongoing season of IPL 2024.
Mumbai Indians will face Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday, April 22. The Indians are currently in seventh place with six points from seven games. However, if they win against Rajasthan Royals, they will join three other teams with eight points.
While talking in a video on his official YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that Mumbai Indians seem to be effectively playing with only nine players, as they haven’t been able to make the most of Mohammad Nabi and Romario Shepherd.
The former commentator said, “They have decided that they will play cricket with nine people, which is beyond my understanding. You are not getting Nabi to bat or bowl. Are you playing Nabi just as a No. 8 or No. 9 batter? You don’t wish at all to get him to bowl. You don’t get the confidence at all to bowl him.”
“If you are not going to bowl him, think of someone else. Romario Shepherd’s bowling is not working. If that’s the case, are you playing him also for batting? Look within a little. You just got saved by the skin of your teeth in the last match. Your bowling is looking extremely ordinary barring Jasprit Bumrah,” the former India opener added.
The Afghan all-rounder Nabi has only bowled six overs in four games which he has played in IPL 2024. On the other hand, Shepherd has bowled 10 overs but he has been very expensive for the team.
