Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth questioned Mumbai Indians’ decision to appoint Mitchell McClenaghan as the team’s new bowling coach. The former New Zealand seamer will take over the coaching baton from Lasith Malinga.
McClenaghan played a key role in three of MI’s title wins – in 2015, 2017 and 2019, taking 71 wickets in 56 matches for the franchise. The left-arm seamer had an economy rate of 8.49 in his IPL career.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “Robin Uthappa will be a good batting coach because he has been very successful in the IPL. He is a highly successful IPL player. So for the IPL, he is the correct guy. As for Mitchell McClenaghan, I am not sure, as he used to get smashed a lot in the IPL during his playing days. T Dilip is also an excellent appointment, as he has done it for India and has worked with Rohit Sharma.”
On the other hand, the 1983 World Cup-winner backed Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians’ captain ahead of the new season. Hardik Pandya is expected to part ways with the franchise.
“It looks like Rohit Sharma will be the captain. And if that is the case, Hardik Pandya has to be traded only. The very fact that Rohit is coming as captain means there is something wrong with Hardik, and he won’t be retained. MI wants to go back to winning ways, and so it’s a good choice to go with Rohit,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
“The natural move should have been Bumrah as captain after Hardik. But I think MI are trying to stabilize things in the upcoming season. After Hardik took over, the team has become totally disoriented. To right those wrongs, Rohit might be the ideal man.”
IPL 2027 auction will be held in Goa in mid-December.
