Mumbai Indians' head coach, Mark Boucher, wholeheartedly supported skipper Rohit Sharma amid his lean batting form in IPL 2023. Boucher praised Sharma for leading the team's aggressive batting approach, which they had envisioned for the competition.
Sharma managed to score only 332 runs in 16 innings, with two fifties, at a strike rate of 132.80. In the recent Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Titans, he could only contribute eight runs as Mumbai Indians were eliminated from the tournament after being bowled out for 171.
"Rohit is a quality player. He played a crucial role in driving the way we wanted to play. Our batting this season was exceptional. We identified areas where we needed improvement at the beginning of the season, and the captain took charge to execute that vision," Boucher stated during the post-match press conference.
Boucher highlighted the team's improved performance during powerplays compared to the previous season and their positive brand of cricket. He acknowledged that T20 games can be challenging, and sometimes opponents outplay them.
Boucher expressed his satisfaction with the impressive form displayed by young batters Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera throughout the tournament. He praised their influential innings and emphasized the team's growing understanding of their roles.
Regarding the absence of Dewald Brevis, who impressed in a few matches last year, Boucher explained that they aimed for continuity in the team. While he sympathized with Brevis, he believed that sticking with the winning combination was the right decision.
Boucher acknowledged the challenges faced by Mumbai Indians' bowlers due to the absence of star pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer, and Jhye Richardson. He noted the high scoring totals at the Wankhede Stadium and emphasized the inexperienced bowling lineup. Despite some room for improvement, Boucher believed the bowlers showed progress throughout the competition and highlighted the difficulty of bowling on a batting-friendly pitch like Wankhede.
In conclusion, Boucher supported Rohit Sharma and commended his leadership in driving the team's aggressive batting approach. He expressed satisfaction with the performance of young batters and discussed the challenges faced by bowlers in high-scoring matches. Mumbai Indians will undoubtedly analyze their performance and work towards improving in future seasons.