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IPL 2020: Rohit plays down Boult injury concern, expects MI pacer back for final

Written by Abhishek Patil

Rohit Sharm’s words of assurance after Mumbai Indians’ 57-run win over Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020 Qualifier 1 came as a big relief for the fans of the defending champions as played down Trent Boult’s groin injury concerns. Boult bowled only 2 overs but did enough damage before walking off with a groin strain.

Trent Boult jolted the Delhi Capitals’ chase of 201 as he removed Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane for naughts before Jasprit Bumrah removed Shikhar Dhawan for 0 to leave them reeling at 0 for 3. Boult and Bumrah have combined spectacularly well for MI as the duo has picked up 49 wickets between them at IPL 2020. There were concerns over Trent Boult’s fitness as he was nowhere to be seen on the park after bowling those 2 overs. However, Rohit Sharma said it was only a precautionary measure and he expects the New Zealand pacer to be back for the final on November 10.

“I have not seen him but he seems okay. I don’t think it’s a big problem. It is a big game coming up but we just wanted him to be okay for the next game, a three-day rest and he should be back on the park,” Rohit Sharma said.

It was Bumrah and Boult who set the tone once again with the new ball for MI. Following the early jolt, Delhi Capitals found it hard to have any kind of momentum in their chase. They were restricted to 143 for 8 after Bumrah finished with his career-best T20 figures of 4/14. The India pacer got the wickets of Shreyas Iyer and Marcus Stoinis just when the Australian was looking to make something out of the chase with a 46-ball 65.

Jasprit Bumrah has taken the Purple Cap from Kagiso Rabada with 27 wickets so far — the highest by an Indian pacer ever in the history of IPL.

Heaping rich praise on the way Bumrah and Boult have combined for MI, Rohit said: “When you have bowlers like Bumrah, it makes your life easy. And Bumrah and Boult are in top form. When they play for different countries and franchises, they have different plans. Hats off to them for buying into our plans and executing them so well,” Rohit said.

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Abhishek Patil