Mumbai: Mumbai Indians are slow starters, silent assassins. They rose from bottom to clinch the title last season. But coach Ricky Ponting isn’t keen to take the same route in the ninth edition of IPL. After managing one win out of four matches, the 41-year-old is being meticulous in choosing the squad before the fixture against Royal Challengers Bangalore here at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson has been kept out, there is still no replacement for Lasith Malinga (out due to knee injury) but that is not a concern for the taskmaster.
Read: Malinga reaches Mumbai Indians camp without permission from SLC
We can’t field all middle-order batsmen in one side. Mumbai’s success has been in playing two genuine fast bowlers. Mitchell McClenaghan is bowling well at the moment along with Jasprit Bumrah. If Jos Buttler and Kieron Pollard do not play up to their potential, then there is a chance for Anderson,” said Ponting.
Pollard had been down with food poisoning, his availability isn’t guaranteed but he trained on Tuesday.
The former Australia skipper and three-time World Cup champion accepted that the team could not dominate despite chasing down handsomely against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens last week.
Also Read: Rohit Sharma is a calm character, says Buttler
Even the batting order saw a bit of reshuffling. Hardik Pandya walked in at No 3 against Gujarat Lions but he couldn’t connect; Ambati Rayudu turned out to be exceptional in the position against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rayudu’s innings (54) helped Mumbai to a respectable total.
We didn’t have a specialist at No 3. Rayudu had excelled down the order and won games for us in the past. We didn’t want to break that flow initially. But as for now, it seems Rayudu will bat at No 3 in the next few games,” added Ponting.
Skipper Rohit Sharma, an opener, also stepped down the order after the inclusion of Martin Guptill.
Also Read: Vizag, Kanpur likely to be new IPL venues, Bengaluru to host finals
You see that’s the beauty of Rohit. He is willing to do whatever is required for the team. But I don’t know whether he is going to stay at No 4 throughout the tournament,” said Ponting.
Though Buttler couldn’t do much in his last two outings, Ponting is keen on having him around.
“He didn’t have much luck, after having been dismissed terribly in the last two games, but he remains a match-winner,” he added.
Ponting lauded the team’s bowling effort so far and will be eager to snatch a win in the last few matches at the fortress.
