IPL 2016: Mumbai Indians captain on Harbhajan-Rayudu spat and Bumrah's bowling

Rohit Sharma has scored five half-centuries in this year’s IPL

Mumbai Indian’s won their match against Rising Pune Supergiants rather comprehensively during the Pune leg of the Maharashtra derby but not without producing a cynical moment of controversy. With Steve Smith looking like taking the match away from the defending champions with his strokeplay, Harbhajan Singh and Ambati Rayudu got involved in a heated exchange.

The Pune team started off in an explosive manner after getting some assistance from the disappointing Mumbai fielders. In the 11th over of the innings, the issue of misfielding became fiery when Harbhajan conceded the first boundary of his spell.

Rayudu was unable to stop a boundary despite putting in a dive and the spinner gestured with his hands to the fielder and emitted a loud yell which in Rayudu charged in towards the senior pal. However, it seemed that the differences were worked out as a smiling Rayudu celebrated the wicket with the bowler in offspinner's next over.    

When the Mumbai Indians captain was asked about the incident, He chose to downplay it, mentioning that it was only about some tactical reasons. He said, "There was no discussion. I think Bhajji just wanted Rayudu to be a little squarer, so he went there and explained it to him. There was nothing else."

Rohit played a brilliant undefeated knock of 85 of just 60 balls, guiding his side over the finishing line. The 29-year-olalso spoke about his performance and said, “I think, it was the perfect start although we lost a wicket in the fourth over. Rayudu and myself, both of us created a fifty-run partnership that was crucial and then Buttler came and did what he is known for.”

The Mumbai-born batsman also praised young fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who picked up three curtail wickets with his economical bowling and helped his side restrict the opposition to a modest total. He said, "He's been exceptional over the last three or four months, since he went to Australia. He's never looked back, he's always willing to learn, he's always wanting to improve as a bowler."

The Mumbai captain also shed light on the influence of bowling coach Shane Bond on Bumrah. He said, "Working with Shane Bond is really helping him I guess. Whatever we discussed in our meetings, the execution has been happening. It's the most important thing. I think Bumrah is executing his plans really well, he understands his bowling really well and for him to be in the wickets column is always good for us.”

He further went on and said, “He is a kind of bowler who can make an impact on the given day. So I think he's just doing that for us and I hope that he doesn't look back, keeps moving forward as a bowler and improve every time he goes on to the field."