IPL 2023 | MI has invested in youngsters and time for them to show up: Head coach Mark Boucher

Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher (right) at the practice session ahead of IPL 2023 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru on April 01, 2023.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K

Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher is confident that the youngsters on whom the franchise has been investing for the past few years will stand up and be counted in this edition of the Indian Premier League.

While RCB thrashed MI by eight wickets on Sunday, the find of last season, Tilak Varma, once again showed a lot of promise along with Punjab youngster Nehal Wadhera.

Varma cracked an unbeaten 46-ball 84, while Wadehra scored 21 off 13 deliveries.

“The IPL is a massive event and it’s going to be a great opportunity for some of our young boys to really show up,” Boucher said in a media release issued by MI.

“The way Mumbai Indians have selected their squads over the last few years has been, how you invest in youngsters for the future. It’s now time for those youngsters to show up and basically get the opportunities,” the former Proteas keeper said.

MI’s bowling coach Shane Bond credited the youngsters for helping MI reaching 171 in the opening game.

“Tilak played brilliantly, and so did the other youngsters,” he said.

Speaking after his innings, Varma said, “I always back my shots, and I was doing the same thing here. I was asking my partners what could be a good total here and going accordingly.”