IPL 2022: Leg-spinners sound a warning on Mumbai pitch through Kuldeep Yadav, M Ashwin

Mumbai, March 28: Leg-spinners have fired an early warning in IPL 2022. Murugan Ashwin made a brilliant debut for Mumbai Indians by picking 2 wickets and Kuldeep Yadav had an equally impressive spell for Delhi Capitals, bagging three wickets.

Ashwin said wrist spinners like him and Delhi Capitals' Kuldeep Yadav could be a force to reckon with on the Mumbai pitch.

Kuldeep registered figures of 3/18, and Murugan Ashwin felt they both did the same thing on the pitch.

"Both me and Kuldeep had a good game, wrist spinners, with our variations, we can do a lot off the wicket. Both of us hit the right lengths, bowled the right speeds, it's a good wicket to bat and the lines were important, we had to be precise to put the batters on the backfoot and force them to do something," said Murugan Ashwin in a post-match conference.

Chasing 178, Delhi got off to a bad start as they lost three wickets inside the first six overs.

Murugan Ashwin was the pick for captain Rohit Sharma as bowler removed Tim Seifert for 21 and Mandeep Singh in his first over for Mumbai Indians.

Murugan Ashwin also felt that only minor pulls were needed for Mumbai Indians to hit winning ways.

"As a bowling unit, we were looking very good out there. We need to address a few things like closing out the overs. We gave away a few more boundary balls than we'd have liked but we will regroup and come back stronger.

“I don't think we succumbed to pressure, we have experienced bowlers, it's just about finishing off games. We will come back," said the 31-year-old leg-spinner.

He also praised a good innings from Ishan Kishan. "Ishan was very good, he took it till the end, that was a good, responsible innings from him. He was batting well in the nets and practice games, so I'm happy for him," said Murugan.

The 18th over proved vital as Axar Patel and Lalit Yadav smashed Daniel Sams for 24 runs which included three mammoth sixes as Delhi ended any hope of Mumbai.

In the second ball of the penultimate over Patel smashed Jasprit Bumrah to four and Capitals took the honours and grabbed all the points.

Kuldeep returns

Axar Patel said the Capitals gave Kuldeep Yadav a sense of security that brought the best out of the Indian wrist-spinner against Mumbai Indians (MI).

In DC's campaign opener, Kuldeep picked three wickets and conceded just 18 runs in four overs against MI.

"He was adjudged man of the match for playing a key role in Delhi Capitals' victory. It's all about mindset. He was struggling in the IPL as his place in the KKR team was not secure. He was not sure that he would play all his matches," said Axar Patel in the post-match press conference, when asked about Kuldeep's performance.

"He feels now that the game is sure to come after coming here. You can give your best if you know that you have a safe place, and won't be dropped after a poor performance in two matches.

“Took important wickets like Pollard. The way coach Ricky Ponting and captain (Rishabh Pant) supported him, made him do his best," said Axar after Delhi's four-wicket win.