Uncapped South African speedster, Marco Jansen, hit the headlines during the 2021 Indian Premier League auction. The 20-year-old got picked up by Mumbai Indians. The defending champions handed him the debut cap during their season opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Following the match, Jansen received applauds for his prolific bowling against RCB’s distinguished batting line-up though MI lost the game. In four overs, he had conceded just 28 runs at an economy of 7. But, former New Zealand batsman Scott Styris felt MI made a mistake by playing Jansen in 2021. The veteran said that Mumbai could have kept him in the shell for this edition.
Scott Styris told on Star Sports show Cricket Connected: “In some ways, I think this is a bad move for Mumbai Indians to pick up Marco Jansen right now, because now, as we are doing, we are talking about it, everybody is talking about it.”
As there will be a mega auction next year, Mumbai might not retain him. Hence, the franchise has to spend a massive sum on him if the speedster carries forward his impressive form. He suggested that MI should freeze him for this year, considering the long-time outcome.
Scott Styris On Marco Jansen
“And with the possibility of a major auction next year, then I think Mumbai may have to suddenly pay up big bucks because they are not going to keep him. So, I would suggest, to think a little bit long-term, maybe put him on the ice this year, and Mumbai Indians could have swept in next year having for a long time like Lasith Malinga,” Scott Styris said.
However, Scott Styris was super impressed by Jansen’s performance, and he would expect the pacer to twinkle in IPL. Jansen’s speed that clocked around 143 mph amazed the former cricketer.
“I thought it was a phenomenal performance. I thought he is incredibly impressive and the reason for that is not about the simple factor that he gets bounce because he is six foot eight, which is what you expect. He touched 143mph, which is a serious pace. He is going to get bounce if he has got pace. And he started, on that pitch, to bowl the slower balls as well,” Styris said.
Also Read: IPL 2021, Match 5 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians – Match Preview
