• Source:JND
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India pacer Jasprit Bumrah was instrumental in Mumbai Indians' nine-run win over Punjab Kings in the IPL 2024 match in Mullanpur on Thursday. Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee clinched three wickets each to restrict the hosts from reaching the 193-run target but other MI bowlers were not up to the mark for the franchise.

MI's bowling has appeared to be their weak link in the season barring Bumrah, who has been economical and also taking wickets at regular intervals for the side. In the match against Punjab, Bumrah got the early wickets of Rilee Rossouw and Sam Curran before returning to dismiss swashbuckling Shashank Singh to seal the match for MI.

Former Australia opener Tom Moody opined that MI captain Hardik Pandya did not fully utilise premier pacer as he was only given two overs when Punjab struggled to set a solid partnership. In Bumrah's absence, Punjab's scoreboard flourished as Ashutosh Sharma and Shashank hammered runs to rebuild innings for the side.

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"Again, Mumbai leaning on him so much to turn their fortunes around. He bowled two overs early on and had the Punjab Kings on their back. But, interestingly enough, he didn't bowl another over until the 13th," said the former Australian cricketer on Star Sports Cricket Live.

"He's at the peak of his powers at the moment. And that's my point of where I think the Mumbai Indians let the Punjab Kings back into this contest. (Gerald) Coetzee and Bumrah for mine, and I'll be interested to hear what the other fast bowlers think on this show. Should (Bumrah) have bowled again to be able to put Punjab completely out onto the campus," he added.

Former South African pacer Dale Steyn feels that completing Bumrah's spell early in the match would have finished the match before for Mumbai Indians.

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"We want to see them (MI) close out games early by bringing Bumrah back or Coetzee. But then they have to depend on guys like Hardik to finish off, who hasn't been bowling as well of late and some of the other bowlers travelling like (Romario) Shepherd, they may struggle in the back end," Steyn said.

He added that other bowlers also need to step up to win matches for Mumbai Indians.

"Mumbai are in a situation now where they have to tactically figure things out, but they also need somebody to step up, their bowlers to step up and really help out Bumrah and Coetzee, because if they (MI) keep going the way they are, they might lose more points again," the veteran pacer added.

With six points in seven matches, MI sit in seventh place in the points table. The five-time champions will next take on table-topper Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on April 22.