'They missed a trick': SRH batter Heinrich Klaasen on MI's blunder that changed outcome of the match

SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) batter Heinrich Klaasen has revealed that Mumbai Indians committed a major blunder by not employing their strike bowler Jasprit Bumrah in the first six overs.

SRH put up the highest team total in IPL history by scoring 277/3 in the stipulated 20 overs against an insipid Mumbai Indians bowling unit.

"They didn't bowl their best bowler in the powerplay... that was our plan. They missed a trick up front. We've got incredible strikers up front in our batting line-up. They just set the tempo, so our work was basically done," Klaasen told the host broadcaster.

Bumrah only bowled one over in the powerplay and was only brought into action after the 12th over. However, by then, the SRH batters had got their eyes in and taken the game away from the grasp of MI.

Australia's Travis Head, playing his first game for SRH, scored the fastest fifty for the franchise before the record was broken by youngster Abhishek Sharma 20 minutes later. Klaasen and Aiden Markram applied the finishing touches.

Pundits criticise Pandya

Cricketer-turned-pundit Irfan Pathan also criticised Pandya for his bowling choices and echoed the sentiment shared by Klaasen.

"The captaincy of Hardik Pandya has been ordinary to say the least. Keeping Bumrah away for too long when the carnage was on was beyond my understanding." Irfan Pathan wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Former Australian speedster Bret Lee also criticised Mumbai Indians for getting Bumrah's entry point wrong.

“I think Mumbai Indians got their bowling wrong... Jasprit Bumrah should have bowled the first over. In the last two games when Jasprit Bumrah has come onto bowl, they've been none for 42 and today, they were none for 42 again when he came onto bowl," said Lee.

In the two matches MI have played so far, skipper Pandya has preferred to give himself the new ball instead of Bumrah. However, he hasfailed to deliver his best, picking only one wicket while conceding 76 runs with an economy rate of 10.85 in seven overs.

(With inputs from agencies)