Not Bumrah’s alternative, simply doing my job, says Madhwal

Akash Madhwal could have a much bigger function to play in Mumbai Indians’ future engagements.
| Photograph Credit score: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

Seamer Akash Madhwal’s record-breaking five-wicket haul helped five-time champion Mumbai Indians beat Lucknow Tremendous Giants with out breaking sweat within the IPL-16 Eliminator match on the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium right here on Wednesday.

File effort

With the 81-run win taking it into the Qualifier-2 in opposition to Gujarat Titans, MI will again the level-headed Madhwal to step up after he recorded the primary five-for (5 for 5) in a Playoffs match, by the way additionally the joint-best IPL figures ever by an Indian.

Madhwal has emerged as MI’s interim reply to spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. “It’s not like I have taken Bumrah bhai’s spot. I am just trying to perform to the fullest. I have a slightly slinging action, so I was pitching the ball on hard lengths to extract wickets,” Madhwal stated after Tremendous Giants had been budled out for the bottom Playoffs complete (101).

Handed the limited-overs captaincy of Uttarakhand from the 2022-23 home season, the 29-year-old Madhwal stated the management stint had helped him enhance his on-field nous.

“Captaining was not an easy task. The workload increases. I was not overwhelmed, but I had a lot to learn from the experience. Earlier, I used to view the game only as a bowler. But as a captain, I have become analytical of the conditions,” he stated.

Having fun with the problem

Madhwal’s starry spell took the sheen off Tremendous Giants pacer Naveen-ul-Haq, who drowned out fixed “Kohli, Kohli” chants from the gang with a career-best 4 for 38.

The Afghan relished the underdog problem regardless of the defeat. “I enjoy it. I like the crowd chanting his (Virat Kohli’s) or any other player’s name. As a professional, you have to take these in stride. One day you don’t perform, the fans will give it to you, and the next day you do a special thing, the same people will chant your name,” Naveen stated.