Hardik defends Bumrah strategy after MI big win

Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya defended his decision to bowl Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball in their emphatic 99-run win over Gujarat Titans. The move paid off instantly as Bumrah struck with his first delivery to remove Sai Sudharsan, his first wicket of the season in his sixth match.

"I've seen a lot of people go, why Jassie has never bowled. But if you see, it's been 151 appearances and I think 8 or 9 times Jasprit has bowled the first over. So I don't think it's a Hardik Pandya problem," Hardik explained. He emphasized that Bumrah's role is defined by impact rather than convention: "It's just that Jasprit Bumrah is so special that you use him wherever it's required for the team, not when you start." The skipper also highlighted the importance of the win for the team and praised youngsters like Tilak Varma for their performance. sweetbonanza.qpon