'I am sure they will come back stronger,' Suryakumar on MI's middle-order woes

Mumbai Indians (MI) batsman Suryakumar Yadav reckons that his side's misfiring middle-order is not a concern and remains confident that they will bounce back strongly in the next games. MI lost their third game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 season, losing to Punjab Kings (PBKS) by nine wickets on Friday (April 23). The middle-order consisting of Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard Krunal Pandya have failed to perform consistently in the tournament so far.

"...they have been working really hard in the nets, every day, every practice session, it is just a matter of one game, I feel, that we will be coming back into the games," he said in a virtual press conference.

"Everyone is trying to take that responsibility in every game, it is just that it is not working, it happens in this sport, but I am sure they will come back really stronger," he added.

The defending champions have played five matches in the Chennai leg and have tasted victory just twice They will play their next four matches in Delhi, beginning with the match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 29.

"Conditions are a little different here, but we are trying to play ourselves on such wickets in the practice," said Suryakumar, who made a 27-ball 33 against Punjab. 

"We have faced this situation before and come back really stronger, so I feel we will come back really stronger, we fire in one game and then there is no looking back," he added.

Speaking about playing in the next phase of the tournament, the India batsman said, "One phase is completely over, it is time for the next phase and I am sure 100 per cent, that we will start the next phase really strong and come back into the tournament really hard."

PBKS leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who returned with figures of 2 for 21, said the Chepauk track was supporting the spinners and he looked to bowl wicket to wicket. "... as the ball pitched outside was easy to be hit, so my plan was to ball as many balls stump to stump," said Bishnoi.

The 20-year-old said skipper KL Rahul has asked him to work on a few things. "The one, two things (which I needed to work on) was that I should be bowling more consistently, and he backed me that if you work more on your bowling, it would be good. He said you will get the opportunity, wait, and I did that," he said.

"If you deliver in difficult situations when you get to bat or ball, then it is good for you and the management's faith increases."

Punjab takes on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday (April 26)

(With inputs from PTI)