Jayawardene Criticizes MI’s Finishing Skills in Loss vs LSG
The Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered a disappointing 12-run defeat at the hands of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 4, and the team’s head coach, Mahela Jayawardene, did not hold back from expressing his disappointment and frustration with the team’s performance. In a post-match interview, Jayawardene placed the onus on his players to improve their finishing skills and be ruthless enough to close out games and take two points.
The MI coach emphasized that his team was not “smart enough” to finish the game and take the win, which ultimately led to their defeat. Jayawardene’s comments served as a wake-up call for his players, who have been struggling to close out matches and take advantage of strong starts.
MI’s batting lineup, which includes experienced players like Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav, has been struggling to deliver under pressure. The team has been guilty of losing wickets at crucial junctures, which has hindered their ability to accelerate and take the game away from the opposition.
Jayawardene’s criticism of his team’s finishing skills is not unfounded. MI has been struggling to close out matches in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. In their previous match against LSG, the team was in a strong position, with a score of 145-4 after 15 overs. However, they lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out for 173, leaving them 12 runs short of the target.
The MI coach’s comments also served as a reminder that teams can no longer afford to take the foot off the pedal in the IPL. The league has become increasingly competitive, with teams like LSG and the Gujarat Titans (GT) showing that they can take games away from the opposition even in the dying stages.
Jayawardene’s emphasis on the importance of finishing skills is music to the ears of fans who have been frustrated with MI’s inability to close out matches. The team has a rich history of winning the IPL, but they have been struggling to maintain their dominance in recent seasons.
The MI coach’s comments also served as a reminder that the team’s batting lineup needs to improve its ability to rotate the strike and accelerate the scoring rate. The team has been relying too heavily on Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav to score big runs, which has put pressure on the other batsmen to deliver.
Jayawardene’s criticism of his team’s finishing skills is not the first time that he has expressed frustration with their performance. In previous matches, he has been critical of the team’s fielding and bowling, which has also been a concern for the team.
However, Jayawardene’s comments also served as a reminder that the IPL is a competition that requires teams to be adaptable and flexible. Teams can no longer rely on their strength of bench and ability to make up for poor performances through their depth. The league has become increasingly competitive, and teams need to be able to perform consistently across all departments to be successful.
In conclusion, Jayawardene’s criticism of MI’s finishing skills is a timely reminder that the team needs to improve its ability to close out matches and take two points. The team’s batting lineup needs to be more ruthless and take the game away from the opposition. Jayawardene’s comments also served as a reminder that the IPL is a competition that requires teams to be adaptable and flexible, and that teams can no longer afford to take the foot off the pedal.
