IPL 2023: ‘Cameron Green is a potential match-winner for Mumbai Indians,’ says Irfan Pathan ahead of MI’s clash against Lucknow Super Giants

The league stage of IPL 2023 ended with a bang as Mumbai Indians became the fourth team to qualify for the playoffs at the end of the last league match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans. The level of competition in the toughest T20I can be gauged from the fact that the fourth and final team to book a playoff berth was decided after the result of the last league game of the tournament following GT’s win over RCB.

GT and Chennai Super Kings finished as the top two teams and earned themselves another chance to lift the coveted trophy. They will take on each other in Qualifier 1 on May 23 at MA Chidambaram. While MI and Lucknow Super Giants will clash with each other in the Eliminator at the same venue a day later.

The loser of Qualifier 1 will take on the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 on May 26 at the Narendra Modi Stadium and the winner of Qualifier 1 on May 28 in Ahmedabad for the title. (IPL 2023: KKR breaks silence amid reports Mohun Bagan fans were denied entry to Eden Gardens)

In the first match of the double header on Sunday, MI displayed batting prowess of the highest order to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in a massive run chase at home. Cameron Green – who scored his maiden IPL century with the winning shot for MI – lived up to the billing in his debut season and sent a warning to LSG ahead of the knockout game.

Hailing Green’s sensational batting performance against SRH, former India cricketer Irfan Pathan suggested that the young Australia all-rounder should bat at number three in the coming matches. (IPL 2023: Sanjay Bangar gives update on Virat Kohli’s injury ahead of WTC final)

Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, Irfan Pathan said, “MI invested big money in Cameron Green (in the TATA IPL auction) and the big hitter did not disappoint. He is a potential match-winner for MI. Let him bat Should do.” Number three for MI in the coming matches as it will not be easy to bat on pitches like Wankhede in Chennai and Ahmedabad. Green can bat at number three and SKY can bat at number four on slow pitches.

Centuries came from both sides as India cricket Virat Kohli’s present and Shubman Gill’s brilliant hundreds in the Super Sunday evening game. The duo smashed two consecutive tons in as many games to establish their dominance, but the knock of youngsters overpowered the veterans. It was a memorable day in the history of Tata IPL as an unprecedented three centuries were scored in two matches in a single day of IPL.

Praising Virat Kohli for his batting masterclass at M Chinnaswamy, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar rated King Kohli’s innings against GT as the better of his two hundreds this season.

Talking on Star Sports Studio, Sanjay Manjrekar said, ‘This century of Kohli is more special than the previous one because Gujarat Titans bowling attack was much better than Sunrisers Hyderabad. Team up for a respectable total.”

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh lauded Kohli’s knock which hardly contained any risky shots and this quality makes him a dangerous batsman across formats.

Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, Harbhajan Singh said, “You never see Virat Kohli playing risky shots, he always seems to play in the ‘V’. He has proper cricketing shots and that’s why he is so popular.” Great batsman. Kohli is. A proper batsman and he can play any format of the game, be it Test, T20 or even T10 because of supreme technique.”

Harbhajan Singh also lauded Shubman Gill, the future of Indian cricket – who many believe is Virat Kohli’s successor. The former Indian cricketer highlighted the difference between Kohli and Gill.

Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, Harbhajan Singh said, “Shubman Gill builds his innings brilliantly. He has a personality of his own and a lazy elegance unlike the intense Virat Kohli. He plays all the tricks with ease like Kohli.” Can play K shots, but he will not look as aggressive as Kohli with his body language. He is a different character. He is a potential talent for India.”