Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jaywardene supported young Afghanistan spinner Allah Ghazanfar, saying that having an X-factor bowler like him in the team gives the team a lot of advantage across conditions in the IPL 2026. He also came under scrutiny after conceding 51 runs in Mumbai’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders.
“I think he is one for the future. We feel that with his height what we see what he can do. He will improve,” Jayawardene said. “He needs more game time obviously leading up to that. He was supposed to play against Sri Lanka but that tournament got cancelled. So I am not worried. I think he bowled well. He had 4-5 bad deliveries in that entire match which got him.”
However, Mumbai Indians also have Mitchell Santner, Will Jacks and Mayank Markande in their squad as well.
“To have that X-factor bowler within our group. Among guys like Mitch, Jacks, Mayank. Just gives us a different option in different conditions. Maybe later in the tournament. But definitely we feel that he is a great asset to have. 10 teams make it even harder competition. But I think in the last 5 years, we were in the playoffs 2 or 3 times, if I am not mistaken,” Jayawardene said.
“We never thought that we will change the combo” – Mahela Jayawardene
“So that means we had our opportunities and it was just that last bit. In a competition like this, you have to take one game at a time and go through the process. As a team, we know that we have done well consistently over a period of time,” he further added.
Mahela Jayawardene also stated that Ryan Rickleton will continue to be picked before Quinton de Kock as he made a successful partnership with Rohit Sharma at the top.
“When we bought him we knew his potential, we had him in SA20 team as well. And when he and Ro had a good combination last year there was no intention of changing it. When we saw Quinny at the auction, it was an opportunity for us. We saw him as an overseas back up because Indian wicket keeper went for crazy prices. And he fit brilliantly. We never thought that we will change the combo. We didn’t want to change something that was not broken,” Mahela Jayawardene concluded.
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