Former South African skipper Faf du Plessis feels Jasprit Bumrah’s first over against Gujarat Titans injected belief into the team at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Monday. Defending 200 runs, Hardik Pandya gave the opening over to the team’s pack leader and Bumrah struck on his first ball, removing GT opener Sai Sudharsan for a golden duck.

Du Plessis said Bumrah’s first over laid the foundation for Mumbai Indians as the team’s first over was going for plenty in the earlier matches. Bumrah eventually returned with impressive figures of 1-15 in three overs he bowled as MI clinched a comprehensive 99-run win to break their four-game losing streak.

Faf du Plessis said on ESPN Cricinfo, “I think so far every first over of MI has gone for 10-plus. We talk about momentum in the field and then the first over goes for 13-14 and then the wind just gets knocked out a little bit. We all agree that Bumrah is the greatest bowler of this generation. What that first over from Bumrah did was it injected belief into the team that today is the day we are going to have a good day.”

On the other hand, former Indian batter Abhinav Mukund said Bumrah was more effective when he came to bowl the first over as the opposition batters had not settled at the crease.

He said, “For the first time since 2022, Jasprit Bumrah gets to bowl the first over and not when teams are 40-0 or 60-0. It’s been like that throughout the season every time he has come on to bowl. 0/0, he comes in and then suddenly strikes. I am not saying the first over wicket was the turning point in the game. The affordability to do that against a side like Gujarat Titans (GT), who aren’t so great in the middle against spin, it sort of adds up for this game.”

Mumbai Indians will next take on Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.