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Five-time IPL champs Mumbai Indians are struggling for momentum this season after managing just one win from four games, including a current three-match losing streak. And one of the major concerns for the Hardik Pandya-led outfit, who suffered an 18-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Wankhede on Sunday night, is their underperforming bowling unit.
MI, who are generally well known for a strong bowling attack, have only managed 15 scalps in four games so far. While ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah has the best economy of 8.20, he is still awaiting his first wicket. MI’s most successful bowler at the moment is pacer Shardul Thakur, who has claimed five wickets, but at an expensive economy of 13.45. MI’s costliest bowler has been leg-spinner Mayank Markande, who is yet to take a wicket in three games and has an economy of 15.20.
Sherfane Rutherford. Pic/IPL
MI all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford, though reckons the bowling unit’s struggles are not a big problem. “It [bowling] is definitely not a concern. If we are honest, other teams have batted well. We need to give credit where it’s due. The [RCB] guys batted well. It’s just a small margin for us. It’s probably about changing one or two fielders. I don’t think it has much to do with our bowlers. It’s just about executing and getting better,” Rutherford, who scored an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls (1×4, 9×6) during their unsuccessful chase of RCB’s 240-4, said during the post-match press conference on Sunday.
MI began IPL-19 well, beating Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets at Wankhede, before suffering away defeats to Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals.
“I think it’s just small margins. As a team, our preparation has been good; as a unit, we have been preparing well. What is important for us is to keep learning,” added Rutherford, 27, who has represented West Indies in 22 ODIs and 53 T20Is.
He is confident MI will bounce back. “It’s about how you take the learnings. We need to go back to the drawing board and strengthen up on the small margins. As a team, we will come back stronger. We are a good team. Three games do not make us a bad team. There are 14 games, so there’s a long way to go,” he added.
462
Total number of runs scored at Wankhede on Sunday — the highest match aggregate in an MI vs RCB IPL clash
11
No. of wides conceded by MI bowlers on Sunday
Zero
No. of wickets claimed by Jasprit Bumrah in his last five games for MI
222-5
No. of runs scored by MI on Sunday — their highest total vs RCB in IPL
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