Former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody believes Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya did not make the best use of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the IPL against Kings XI Punjab, which allowed them to Difficult position to fight back and not far off MI’s overall score. Bumrah was unparalleled in Thursday’s match at Mullanpur, taking the wickets of opener Sam Curran, Riley Rossu and the dangerous Shashank Singh, Helped MI win by nine runs. MI set a target of 193 for PBKS.

The India mainstay took two wickets in the second over, dismissing Curran and Rossu, but just as PBKS bowed their heads, he was pulled out of the attack, allowing the home team to pull one back.

“Mumbai once again relied heavily on him to turn around their fortunes. He bowled two overs early and gave Kings XI Punjab back-to-backs. But interestingly, he didn’t bowl again until the 13th,” said the former. Australian cricketers take part in Star Sports Cricket Live.

“He is at the peak of his powers now. That’s my point about Mumbai Indians getting Kings XI Punjab back in this game. (Gerard) Coetzee and Bumrah are mine and I’d love to hear what other quicks The bowlers in this show feel that (Bumrah) should bowl again to take Punjab fully into the campus,” he added.

Former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn feels MI’s frontline pacers Bumrah and Coetzee need support from other bowlers given the stringent nature of the IPL. He hinted that a depressed Pandya did not help MI’s bowling department.

“We would like to see them (MI) finish the game early by bringing back Bumrah or Coetzee. But they have to rely on guys like Hardik, who has not been bowling well of late, and a few others to finish the game. Pitchers travel like (Romario) Shepherd and they might struggle at the back end.

“Mumbai are in a situation now where they have to figure it out tactically but they also need someone to step up, their bowlers to step up and really help Bumrah and Coetzee because if they (MI) continue the way they are doing right now “Moody also believes that Suryakumar Yadav will have to play the entire league to get fit after recovering from an ankle injury and hernia surgery.”

On Thursday, ‘Mr 360’ shot a 53-ball 78 to guide MI to a score of 192 runs. The middle-order batsman is crucial to India’s chances at the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States, something Moody believes the cricketer needs to get his peak fitness back.

“The important thing is that he slowly gets back to full fitness and he needs to play 40 games and that would be great. Not that he’s bowling or anything, but for his own peace of mind and health and for the next games. Be ready. “It was a great game today (from him).

Steyn praised the sweeping shot used by PBSK batsman Ashutosh Sharma against Bumrah, which was not used often against India.

“I mean, IPL always lets us down in close games and creates new heroes… Bumrah bowled a no-ball and next Ashutosh fell and hit a six-run sweep.”

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)