Agarkar blames MI middle order for team's poor run

Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar today blamed the Mumbai Indians' middle order for the defending champions' poor show in the Indian Premier League.

He also wanted MI skipper Rohit Sharma to open or bat at number three.

MI are languishing in the last spot with just four points and are staring at an early exit.

"Their (MI) bowling attack is quite potent, (but) they haven't again delivered. Their batting has kind of let them down - their middle order. They just somehow have missed the important moments in a game and have probably let themselves down," Agarkar told PTI.

Agarkar also emphasised that MI should re-look at their batting order.

"They need to start getting their batting right. Rohit, for me, needs to bat at number three, if he is not opening, and not lower than that.

"They need Rohit to play well. Others have to chip in. Suryakumar Yadav has been good for them. Apart from that, they haven't had too many match-winners in their batting, which is bit of worry," added Agarkar, who had played 191 ODIs for India.

Saying MI would be disappointed with West Indian Kieron Pollard's poor form, Agarkar felt the all-rounder lacks confidence.

"More than me Mumbai Indians are disappointed. They obviously trust him (Pollard) a lot, rely on him a lot, so they want him in good form. He is in bad form, the confidence is not there. They depend a lot on his power at the end of the innings and it has not happened this year."
"They are missing him (Deepak Chahar) because sometimes when you have something that is working and when you have an injury, it is always difficult."