IPL 2021: The pitches have a bit more help for the fast bowlers – Aakash Chopra on Jasprit Bumrah’s form in second leg

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra said that the UAE pitches have been helpful for the fast bowlers and thus Mumbai Indians ace paceman Jasprit Bumrah has been successful in the second phase of the tournament.

Bumrah was not in the best of forms in the first leg however he has been able to turn the tables in the second leg of the competition.

The gun fast bowler has been right on the money for the defending champions as he has provided the breakthroughs at the right time. Bumrah has scalped 17 wickets in 12 matches at an impressive average of 21 and an economy rate of 7.59 in the ongoing season.

However, Bumrah’s efforts have gone in vain as MI has lost four out of their five matches in the second phase and hasn’t been able to come up with a collective effort with the bat.

While speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Chopra said: “Sometimes just not the tournament, sometimes it is what happens before it that plays a role. Bumrah barely played any cricket before the first leg. He returned injured from Australia and did not play the fourth test. Then he missed entire Test series, then he got married and missed the limited-overs series against England at home.”

“Then came the IPL and that too in Chennai, not a venue where you would expect Bumrah to pick up a lot of wickets. That has changed completely now, lot of wickets now since the wickets are giving a little more to the fast bowlers,” Chopra added.

Meanwhile, MI will face Rajasthan Royals in what will be a must-win match for both teams. Chopra feels Rohit Sharma should bowl two overs from Jasprit Bumrah in the powerplay as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson and Evin Lewis will hold the key for the opposition.

“The cream of Rajasthan is right at the top with Jaiswal, Lewis and Samson. If you can dismiss 2 of those 3 early, then I think the game is in the bag,” Chopra explained.

In fact, West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite also feels Jasprit Bumrah should bowl two overs in the powerplay.

“Bumrah should bowl with the new ball, you want early wickets and you want to put the other team under pressure and he’s more effective with the new ball and will put them under pressure in the powerplay.”