Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes Mumbai Indians have come out on top in the blockbuster trade involving Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh with Punjab Kings.
As part of the deal, Pandya will move to Punjab Kings, while Arshdeep will join Mumbai Indians. Both players will continue to earn Rs 18 crore per season at their new franchises.
While Pandya is expected to strengthen Punjab’s batting and all-round options, Arshdeep’s arrival could solve a major problem for Mumbai Indians, according to Pathan.
The left-arm pacer is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals and also has an impressive record at the Wankhede Stadium. He has picked up 15 wickets in nine matches at an average of 14.93 at the venue.
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Speaking on Cricinfo, Pathan backed Mumbai Indians to benefit more from the exchange, pointing out that Arshdeep’s presence would take some pressure off Jasprit Bumrah.
Irfan Pathan Explains Why Mumbai Indians Will Benefit More
Pathan felt Mumbai Indians needed another reliable fast bowler who could support Bumrah, especially after the workload on the Indian pace spearhead in the previous season.
He acknowledged that Bumrah is capable of handling responsibility on his own but stressed that even a bowler of his quality needs support from the other end.
He further explained how Arshdeep’s ability to swing the new ball could give Mumbai more options with Bumrah’s usage.
Pathan also highlighted another advantage of bringing Arshdeep into the squad. With the Indian pacer potentially replacing Trent Boult in the playing combination, Mumbai could have an additional overseas slot available. This would give the franchise more flexibility while selecting its playing XI.
Hardik Pandya To Strengthen Punjab Kings’ Batting
While Pathan believes Mumbai have gained more from the deal, he also expects Pandya to make a positive impact at Punjab Kings.
The all-rounder could provide the finishing ability that Punjab need in the lower middle order. However, Pathan believes losing Arshdeep will leave a significant gap in their bowling attack.
Punjab have options such as Xavier Bartlett and Vijaykumar Vyshak to support Marco Jansen, but Pathan is not convinced that they can fully cover Arshdeep’s absence.
He also pointed towards the challenge of Pandya playing under Shreyas Iyer, who has done a good job as Punjab’s captain.
Pathan Raises Concerns Over Punjab’s Bowling Attack
Pathan also expressed concerns about Punjab’s bowling resources, particularly when it comes to finding a reliable Indian bowler who can take up the role previously handled by Arshdeep.
He pointed towards Yuzvendra Chahal’s recent numbers, suggesting that the experienced leg-spinner is not at his best at the moment.
The former India all-rounder believes Punjab could miss Arshdeep more than they might expect, especially if their other bowling options fail to deliver consistently.
For Mumbai, meanwhile, the trade could address an important weakness by giving Bumrah a dependable partner in the pace attack.