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Former India skipper Kris Srikkanth has criticised the Mumbai Indians bowlers ahead of their fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium on April 12.

He singled out local boy Shardul Thakur, who, after picking 3/39 in their opening game against the Delhi Capitals, has gone for over 15 runs per over in the next two games, picking up just the solitary wicket. Thakur was traded in from the Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the 2026 season. 

"Shardul Thakur's quota for the season is over in the first match itself with a Player of the Match award. The RCB batters will smash him to Marine Drive and Church Gate station. They can't play Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar together. If they both play, those eight overs will go for at least 96 runs," Shrikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

He also mentioned the poor form of Trent Boult in the season. Boult has gone for 12 runs per over in two games and is yet to pick up a wicket in 2026. Srikkanth backed Punjab left-arm seamer Ashwni Kumar, who had a stellar 2025 campaign in his debut season, to come good. He picked up 11 wickets in the seven games last season. 

"Trent Boult has been a big let-down for them. If at all they play him and Bumrah, they'll have to open with these two. Boult must bowl the first over. Deepak Chahar should not even be in the 11. Ashwani Kumar is a good player who won a Player of the Match also last year. Play him instead of Chahar. Deepak Chahar is done. He is playing like someone who should be sent to a mechanic's shed," he added.

Mumbai Indians are coming in on the back of two losses away from home. They won their opening game of the season against the Kolkata Knight Riders, breaking a 13-year streak of losing their season opening games.