PBKS vs MI: Nothing wrong with Rohit Sharma's captaincy, MI bowlers are low on confidence - Graeme Swann
India Today
On Wednesday, Mumbai Indians (MI) lost their fifth successive game and are placed at the bottom of the points table in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL).
Former England cricketer Graeme Swann reckoned there's hardly anything wrong with Rohit Sharma's captaincy despite Mumbai Indians' (MI) dismal run in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). MI, the five-time IPL champions, are tottering at the bottom of the points table, having lost all five of their matches in the ongoing championship.
On Wednesday, April 13, Rohit and Co. lost to Mayank Agarwal's Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 12 runs at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Swann, one of the most decorated spinners during his playing days, said it's unfair to criticise the 34-year-old Sharma for MI's poor showing this season.
Rather, Swann felt that bowling has let the Mumbai-based team down big time. The veteran said that apart from Jasprit Bumrah's stupendous spell in the middle overs, the MI bowlers were well below par during the match against PBKS.
"I am not happy that Rohit Sharma's captaincy is questioned here, at all (97-run opening stand and PBKS scoring 198). I think the bowlers are low on confidence. There is a massive difference between a captain who can throw the ball to his bowlers, who can absolutely hit a length.
"Until Jasprit Bumrah came on and bowled a brilliant spell in the middle overs, the Mumbai bowlers were well below-par," Swann was quoted as saying.
"So do not, for one second, start thinking it's Rohit's fault. Everybody he turned to bowled badly in the first 10 overs. That's how it is," he added.
After electing to field first, MI struggled as PBKS put up a massive score of 198/5 on the board. Barring Bumrah, the other Mumbai bowlers went for plenty, with Basil Thampi and Jayden Unadkat conceding 91 runs in their combined quota of eight overs.
