Kris Srikkanth believes Mumbai Indians have found their usual intensity again, even after captain Hardik Pandya was forced to miss matches due to a back issue. Speaking after Bumrah’s standout debut as MI skipper, the 1983 World Cup winner said the team’s mood and unity changed noticeably in Pandya’s absence.
Key takeaways
- Hardik Pandya missed Mumbai Indians’ last three matches with a back spasm.
- Jasprit Bumrah captained MI for the Punjab Kings match and delivered a memorable first outing as skipper.
- Punjab Kings finished on 200/8, but Mumbai Indians chased it down in 19.5 overs.
- Tilak Varma top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 75 off 33 balls in the successful chase.
- Srikkanth said Bumrah’s leadership helped lift the team’s energy and confidence, especially among bowlers.
- MI are set to play Kolkata Knight Riders on May 20, with Pandya expected to return to captain.
Hardik Pandya out, leadership passes to Bumrah
Hardik Pandya did not feature for Mumbai Indians in their most recent three outings. The first absence came when he missed MI’s home match against Lucknow Super Giants on May 4, after being sidelined with back spasms. He then sat out the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur, even though he travelled with the squad.
There was another skip for Pandya as well when Mumbai Indians faced Punjab Kings in Dharamsala. MI won that contest by six wickets, and it was also a match where Suryakumar Yadav did not play, with Yadav missing the game due to the birth of his child. With both Pandya and Suryakumar unavailable, Mumbai needed a new captain, and Bumrah stepped in.
Punjab Kings post 200/8, MI chase with Varma at the centre
Bumrah’s first game as MI captain turned into a comfortable success, with the fast bowler leading from the front as Mumbai restricted Punjab Kings to 200/8. Under Bumrah’s stewardship, Shardul Thakur struck four times, while Deepak Chahar added two wickets to help keep Punjab’s innings in check.
In reply, Mumbai Indians completed the chase in 19.5 overs, powered by Tilak Varma’s match-winning knock of 75 not out off just 33 deliveries. Varma’s innings provided the finishing touch as MI crossed the target with room to spare.
Srikkanth praises MI’s renewed unity and Bumrah’s calm authority
Kris Srikkanth felt the side looked refreshed in Pandya’s absence, suggesting the leadership change brought an immediate lift. Commenting on his YouTube channel, he said it was a strong decision to hand Bumrah the captaincy and described the move as “fantastic”.
Srikkanth also pointed to a visible shift in team dynamics without Hardik. He said there appeared to be “some issue,” but added that the overall environment felt lighter and more united. In his view, the younger group of players responded positively, with multiple individuals contributing across departments.
He highlighted that Suryakumar Yadav also did not take part in the match, noting that his absence was for personal reasons. Even so, Srikkanth said the younger MI unit looked like it had gelled quickly, with Deepak Chahar bowling well and Raj Angad Bawa delivering decent spells. He further praised Tilak Varma’s impact and recalled how Ryan Rickleton aggressively took on the bowlers early in the chase.
The former India captain stressed that the willingness to win is often the defining factor in T20 cricket, stating that even when the team felt “down in the dumps,” they showed the intent to succeed. He credited that energy as a key difference on the day.
Srikkanth then focused on Bumrah’s demeanour, saying the skipper looked relaxed on the field and consistently backed the bowlers. He added that Bumrah’s smile and encouragement appeared to give confidence to the bowling group, and he believed this captaincy influence helped bowlers such as Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur deliver better performances, instead of allowing loose deliveries and leaking runs. In the end, he noted that everyone contributed with wickets.
Next up for Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders on May 20. Pandya is expected to return and lead the side again, bringing the captaincy back to him after this stretch of matches where Bumrah held the reins.
