When the Mumbai Indians (MI) acquired Jonny Bairstow as a replacement, the expectations were high. After all, the Englishman is known for his aggressive batting, his ability to change games in a few overs, and his electric presence behind the stumps. But after a string of inconsistent performances, fans and pundits alike have started asking: Is Bairstow MI’s very own Jitendra Bhatawdekar?
Against Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator, Bairstow played his first game for Mumbai Indians and smashed GT bowlers all-over the ground. He went on to score 47 runs off 22 balls at a strike rate of 213.64 which included 4 fours and 3 maximums.
Also Read: PBKS Vs MI, Head-To-Head Record: What To Expect From Qualifier 2?
Who Is Jitendra Bhatawdekar?
For those unfamiliar with the reference, Jitendra Bhatawdekar was an unpredicted name which was called by Rohit Sharma in a Dream 11 advertisement. The advertisement also included Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and cricketer Suryakumar Yadav,
Bairstow’s numbers in the last game created a hype. A few flashes of brilliance aside, he’s yet to put together a match-winning performance that justifies his place in MI’s power-packed lineup. But as MI prepare to take on Punjab Kings (PBKS), the spotlight is once again firmly on him.
MI Squad
Hardik Pandya (C), Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Bevon Jacobs, Robin Minz, Krishnan Shrijith, Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Jasprit Bumrah, Arjun Tendulkar, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley, Karn Sharma, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Satyanarayana Raju, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Raghu Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Richard Gleeson, Charith Asalanka.
