Mumbai Indians sent out their Impact Player Dewald Brevis in the first over of their game against Rajasthan Royals today (April 1), a move that backfired as he was dismissed for a golden duck.

Mumbai were sent in to bat first at the Wankhede Stadium and were rocked early by first-over specialist Trent Boult, who dismissed Rohit Sharma for a golden duck with the fifth ball of the innings. It was Boult’s 32nd wicket in the first over of a domestic T20, taking him on par with Mohammad Amir on the list of most wickets taken in the first six balls of a T20 game. The very next ball, he dismissed Naman Dhir to go clear of Amir.

More than Boult’s record, Mumbai’s tactics came under the scanner, as they sent Brevis, initially not part of the XI, at No.4 after Dhir was dismissed. Brevis was named as one of the possible Impact Players for Mumbai ahead of the game with Hardik Pandya’s side naming three overseas players in their original XI – Tim David, Gerald Coetzee and Kwena Maphaka.

Mumbai’s XI also only had six proper batters in the XI. The franchise could have named Brevis in the XI initially as they were batting first over Maphaka, who has made just one T20 run in his career. They could have subbed out Brevis in the second half, bringing Maphaka while they were bowling.

Not naming Brevis in the XI, though, allowed Mumbai more flexibility. If their batters clicked and they did not need Brevis, they could have brought in another overseas bowler in the second innings.

The plan backfired, though, as Brevis was sent out to bat early in the first over of the innings at No.4. The 20-year-old was then entrusted to see off the new ball after Mumbai were reduced to 1-2 in the first over.

The move was not backed up the stats: Brevis has a powerplay strike rate of 105 and he also struggles against left-arm pacers, striking at 115.5 against them in 22 innings. He has also been dismissed by left-arm seamers five times and averages 22.4 against that type of bowling. With Boult bowling, it was even more risky. Brevis was soon out to him for a golden duck. Brevis had also struggled for rhythm during his 38-ball 46 against Gujarat Titans earlier this season.

If Brevis was sent out early to shield a relatively inexperienced middle-order from the new-ball onslaught, it did not work out. Instead, Tilak Varma could have been promoted – he made 64 in 34 in the last game, strikes at 147.4 against left-arm quicks and also starts better in the powerplay.

Deep Dasgupta, on commentary, questioned the move as well, saying if Mumbai needed an extra batter, Brevis could have been pushed down the order. “He wasn’t part of the XI and I don’t think he was mentally prepared to walk out in the first over.”

Mumbai were reduced to 77-5 in the first 10 overs and are looking at their third straight defeat of the season.

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