"The last 2.5 to 3 months have been tough for Hardik and it can break people down completely" - Aakash Chopra on MI players in focus vs LSG

Aakash Chopra has pointed out that Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya has endured a tough last few months. He noted that the all-rounder needs to be at his best heading into next month's T20 World Cup.

MI will face the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in an IPL 2024 clash in Mumbai on Friday, May 17. With eight points from 13 games, the five-time champions are last on the points table. They need to beat LSG to have any chance of avoiding finishing with the wooden spoon.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra picked Hardik as one of the Mumbai Indians players in focus in Friday's game.

"Hardik Pandya the captain. Hardik Pandya has now started to bowl his overs. He is bowling four overs and picking up two to three wickets. If he keeps doing well, it's very good for the Indian team. It won't make a difference to the Mumbai Indians but it will be good for the Indians," he reasoned (14:20).

"In batting, he should score runs because the last two-and-a-half to three months have been tough for Hardik and it can break people down completely. That is about to get over but let's hope that he scores runs. Let's not forget that if Rohit (Sharma) is the captain of the Indian team, the vice-captain is Hardik Pandya. So you want him to do well," the former India opener added.

Hardik has aggregated 200 runs at an underwhelming average of 18.18 in 12 innings in IPL 2024. The seam-bowling all-rounder has picked up 11 wickets at an economy rate of 10.58 in 34 overs this season.

---

"It is enjoyable to watch when he hits" - Aakash Chopra on MI's Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav has had mixed returns in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]

Aakash Chopra chose Suryakumar Yadav as another Mumbai Indians player to watch out for against the Lucknow Super Giants.

"Suryakumar Yadav because when he plays, he plays incredibly well. He thrashed SunRisers Hyderabad at this ground. It is enjoyable to watch when he hits. He bats like that when he does so," he said (4:30).

The cricketer-turned-commentator picked Jasprit Bumrah, subject to him being part of the playing XI, as the Mumbai Indians bowler to watch out for.

"It is very difficult to go beyond Bumrah. However, the question is whether Bumrah will play because I am anticipating a lot of changes as Mumbai's season is over. So they might rest him and say that they can play Akash Madhwal because he was also doing well but didn't get that many chances," Chopra elaborated.

"I don't have any idea about Gerald Coetzee's availability. He might also play if he is available and you might rest Bumrah. However, if they don't do that, Jasprit Bumrah is my one player to go for. He is a mighty guy and bowls well wherever he bowls," the former KKR player added.

With 20 scalps in 13 games, Bumrah is the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024. Only Harshal Patel (22) has taken more wickets this season.