'Forget World Cup, help MI bounce back in the tournament' - Brian Lara on Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan's rusty form

Former West Indies batter Brian Lara believes that Mumbai Indians duo Suryakumar Yadav, and Ishan Kishan are not showing enough hunger to score runs for the team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Last year’s leading six-hitting Kishan has not been able to get going and that has coincided with MI losing three games on the trot.

He was also dropped from the team against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Meanwhile, the ever-reliable Yadav too is not getting enough runs, which has put additional pressure on the likes of Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya.

So far Yadav has scores of 0, 8, 5, 3, and 4 in the last four matches played in the UAE leg of IPL. On the other hand, Kishan has scores of 11, 14, and 9 in the three games during the time. Lara feels may be the batters’ inclusion in the upcoming T20 World Cup has something to do with.

The cricketer-turned-expert further opined that maybe the duo are just sitting back getting complacent and not scoring runs. “Maybe Indian selection (possible reason for their problems). A lot of guys maybe are sitting back on their laurels now,” Lara told Star Sports on Tuesday.

Lara also added that Suryakumar Yadav and Kishan are not looking hungrier than the other MI batter Saurabh Tiwary. The southpaw has scored 50, 5, and 45 in the three chances that he has got during the UAE leg of the IPL. Lara said Kishan and Yadav should not forget where they came from and where their talent was first recognized.

Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan need to be a little bit more professional: Brain Lara

“They remember the Indian team, something may be more important. But this is where your bread and butter is. Playing the IPL is where you have done it. Looking at Suryakumar, looking at Ishan Kishan, looking at Tiwary, he looks hungrier than they are.

“For me, those guys have to be a little bit more professional now and try to help their team win the tournament. Forget the World Cup, this is your job now to get Mi back into the tournament,” Lara added

Mumbai Indians finally arrested their three-match losing streak and beat PBKS by six wickets. Along with Tiwary, all-rounder Hardik Pandya scored a crucial unbeaten 40 runs.