With Playoffs Gone, Should MI Now Rest Bumrah and Bench SKY and Tilak?
Mumbai Indians are out of the playoffs. RCB knocked them out with a last-ball win in Raipur on Saturday — Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 4 for 23, and MI collapsed to 166 for 7. Two more matches left in the league phase. Zero to play for.
That changes the calculus on selection completely.
Jasprit Bumrah has bowled 0 for 54 in a single game this season. He came into IPL managing a back problem and clearly isn’t himself. Every delivery he bowls now is risk with no reward — England’s Test summer is next. Rest him.
Suryakumar Yadav has been inconsistent all tournament. Tilak Varma hasn’t fired consistently either. With nothing to lose and young players needing minutes, this is the moment to give the next generation a run.
MI won’t do this. They’ll field their strongest side and lose with pride. But the argument for protecting key players ahead of a long international calendar is real. Finishing eight in IPL is the same whether Bumrah bowls or not.