IPL 2024: More pressure on Hardik Pandya as Dale Steyn suggests MI captain to step up and help Jasprit Bumrah

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IPL 2024: Dale Steyn has appealed to the likes of Hardik Pandya and Romario Shepherd to step up and support Mumbai Indians frontline pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee.

The comment from Dale Steyn comes after Mumbai Indians' narrow 9-run win over Punjab Kings at the New PCA Stadium in Mohali on Thursday, April 18. Chasing 193. Punjab were five down for 49, but managed to finish on 183 in the end.

Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee took two wickets each in the powerplay to rock the Punjab batting line-up, but once they were removed from the attack, Punjab clawed back.

Dale Steyn has reckoned that Mumbai Indians, who have won only three of their seven matches so far, will lose more points if the dependency on Bumrah and Coetzee continues.

“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 on on Star Sports Cricket Live.

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“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," he added.

Former Australia cricketer Tom Moody also highlighted how Mumbai Indians allowed Punjab Kings a comeback chance in the match once Bumrah was removed from the bowling attack.

“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,” Moody said.

“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.