Ishan Kishan striking form, a big plus for MI

Ishan Kishan en route his unbeaten 50 against RR on Tuesday. Pic/BCCI, IPL

At 41-2 in the sixth over, one would expect a team to put up a par score. Finishing at 90-9 in 20 overs, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have raised serious questions on their intent, attitude and application.

Mumbai Indians (MI) needed a big win to stay in the hunt for the fourth place. They did it on Tuesday with disciplined bowling. Pacers Jasprit Bumrah (2-14), Nathan Coulter-Nile (4-14) and James Neesham (3-12) - all choking a batting line-up that displayed how not to play a 20-over game.

MI sprinted to the total in 8.2 overs with Ishan Kishan (50 not out off just 25 balls) getting into a rhythm that will come in handy for their last game and the T20 World Cup.

RR combo faulty

The team composition for the RR was perplexing. Players bought at a huge price in the auction don't find a place and uncapped players are inducted. Chris Morris, Shivam Dube, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande have been in and out which spells out a mystifying mindset within the management.

Inconsistent

Lack of consistency in the team selection, lack of logic in justifying price points of players being purchased and then benched mirror a confused team management. To think this franchisee won the inaugural edition of the IPL is becoming a distant blur from where they are in 2021.

The writer is a former Mumbai captain and currently CEO of Baroda Cricket Association

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