Not Jasprit Bumrah: MI coach calls this bowler as team's 'X-factor'

Mahela Jayawardene

While Jasprit Bumrah has been MI's cheat code and the go-to man whenever the team has been in trouble, Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jaywardene on Friday backed young Afghan mystery spinner Allah Ghazanfar, saying having an X-factor bowler like him in the squad gives the team an added edge across conditions. The 20-year-old spinner came under spotlight after conceding 51 runs in Mumbai Indians’ opening match against Kolkata Knight Riders, but Jayawardene backed him as a long-term prospect.

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"I think he is one for the future. We feel that with his height what we see what he can do. He will improve," Jayawardene said ahead of Mumbai Indians’ match against Delhi Capitals. "He needs more game time obviously leading up to that. He was supposed to play against Sri Lanka but that tournament got cancelled. So I am not worried. I think he bowled well. He had 4-5 bad deliveries in that entire match which got him." Jayawardene said having a bowler like Ghazanfar adds another option to the squad alongside Mitchell Santner, Will Jacks and Mayank Markande. "To have that X-factor bowler within our group. Among guys like Mitch, Jacks, Mayank. Just gives us a different option in different conditions. Maybe later in the tournament. But definitely we feel that he is a great asset to have." The five-time champions have not won the title since 2020, but Jayawardene said the team has remained competitive. "10 teams make it even harder competition. But I think in the last 5 years, we were in the playoffs 2 or 3 times, if I am not mistaken. "So that means we had our opportunities and it was just that last bit. In a competition like this, you have to take one game at a time and go through the process. As a team, we know that we have done well consistently over a period of time,” Jayawardene said. He also said Ryan Rickelton will continue to open with Rohit Sharma, with Quinton de Kock as backup. "When we bought him we knew his potential, we had him in SA20 team as well. And when he and Ro had a good combination last year there was no intention of changing it. "When we saw Quinny at the auction, it was an opportunity for us. We saw him as an overseas back up because Indian wicket keeper went for crazy prices. And he fit brilliantly." "We never thought that we will change the combo. We didn't want to change something that was not broken," he added.

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