IPL 2022| Shane Bond expects turnaround from Mumbai Indians bowlers

Mumbai Indians (MI) bowling coach Shane Bond feels that the five-time champions need to stick to their plans well while heading into Friday's IPL game against Royal Challengers Bangalore to pull the match result in their favour.

Notably, Mumbai Indians have made an awful start to their IPL 2022 campaign as they lost all the three matches they played in the tournament so far. After being outplayed by Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals in their first two opening games, the Rohit Sharma-led side suffered a five wickets loss against Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) in their third match. 

"One training session or five overs of skill work is not gonna change things. The change that we want is from the mind. It's about how we stick to our plans under pressure. We have experienced bowlers who have played international cricket, so they have to make that mental shift, and I'm sure the result will go our way," Bond said in the press conference ahead of MI's fourth game against Royal Challengers Bangalore. 

The former New Zealand pacer believes that it was a mixed bag performance from Mumbai bowlers in the first three games, while the idea was to stick to the plans and execute it well to make it hard for the opposition. 

Notably, Mumbai bowlers, including pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Daniel Sams, Tymal Mills, and Basil Thampi, went for big runs in their respective overs. That has been the reason behind MI's below-par performance in the tournament thus far. 

"The bowling has been a mixed bag for us; we have taken out some big players. But when the game is in the balance, we have given away a few overs that cost 20+, which won't win us games. So all I have told them is to execute our plans well and make them as hard as possible. We challenge to do that when the pressure is on," said Bond.

Bond further lavished praise on Tilak Varma for stepping up on big occasions and delivering back-to-back good knocks for Mumbai Indians. The former Kiwi pacer also lauded Dewald Brevis, who became the fifth-youngest overseas player to make his first appearance in IPL, for his quick 19-ball 29 knock on his IPL debut. 

"Seeing someone like Tilak come in and play the way he has is not surprising in terms of his talent, and he has fit in seamlessly. It's the same with Dewald - it's one thing to have talent and another to do that in a game, but he did that very well in the last game."

"I take a great deal of heart from the way these two have started, and other players are waiting for a chance to do well when they get that opportunity," he added.

After losing all three games on the trot in the ongoing tournament, the Mumbai Indians are languishing at the bottom of the points table. They will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday in their fourth match of the season at MCA, Pune.