Mumbai Indians pacer Akash Madhwal engineered a brilliant win against the Lucknow Super Giants in Eliminator of the 2023 Indian Premier League on Wednesday, May 24 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. His accurate yorkers reminded the fans of Jasprit Bumrah, who is missing the ongoing season due to an injury. The pacer expressed that he is not Bumrah’s replacement but is trying to give his best for the franchise.
Akash Madhwal finished the Eliminator with the best bowling figures of his career. He took five wickets conceding just five runs, as Mumbai Indians bowled the opposition out for 101 runs. Overall, he has taken thirteen wickets in seven matches so far in the season. Talking about his performance, Akash Madhwal expressed,
“I am trying my best to fulfil the responsibilities given to me by the team. I am not Bumrah’s replacement but I’m trying my best to do what I can.”
“The wicket at Chepauk was good. As you saw, the ball was not gripping but skidding. I am a swing/sling bowler, and I pitched my deliveries in hard lengths aiming for wickets,” he added.
5️⃣/5️⃣ 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧 – Akash Madhwal becomes the first-ever bowler to take a five-wicket haul in IPL Playoffs.#OneFamily #MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #TATAIPL #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/GjBLD61Njb
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 24, 2023
Through the tennis ball, I have only learnt how to bowl yorkers: Akash Madhwal
Akash Madhwal was tennis ball cricket until five years back when he decided to pursue the sport professionally. He spoke about his learnings from tennis ball cricket, which have helped him during the 2023 Indian Premier League. The Mumbai Indians cricketer shared that he learnt how to bowl yorker during his early days, which has worked well for him so far.
“Through the tennis ball, I have only learnt how to bowl yorkers and I use that in my bowling today. There is only one way of evading those deliveries. If the bowling lengths are pitched a bit high or low, it would gift away boundary fours or sixes. Thus, I needed to bowl strong yorkers in tennis cricket and that is what I do today with a proper cricket ball,” said the pace bowler.
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