Cummins belted by Indians

AUSTRALIAN quick Pat Cummins – the most expensive foreign player for the 2020 Indian Premier League with a $2.17 million fee – has been belted for 49 runs in a threeover spell.

It was a hard work for Cummins, whose Kolkata Knight Riders team lost by 49 runs to Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi.

But later Cummins (pictured) smashed 33 runs off 12 balls while coming in to bat at No.7.

“It is very unfair to judge him right now. He is off quarantine,” KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik said.

“He is a world champion bowler. From whatever I have heard and seen he is one of the best going around in the world.

“I trust him completely. I am sure he will come good.”

Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma struck a brisk 80 to help the Indians win their first match in the United Arab Emirates in seven attempts during two IPL editions.

Mumbai lost five matches in the 2014 season – the first half of which was played in the UAE due to elections in India – and went down in the opener of the T20 series this season.

Sharma put on a key second-wicket stand of 90 with Suryakumar Yadav, who hit 47, to guide Mumbai to 5/195.

“It was only two players (Sharma and Kieron Pollard) from the 2014 squad (that are with Mumbai this season),” said Sharma, who was named man of the match.

“It was all about how we executed our plans today, we were in good positions and it was all about being ruthless.”

Sharma hit sixes in his 54ball knock to take his sixes count to 200 in the IPL.

Mumbai bowlers including Trent Boult, James Pattinson, Jasprit Bumrah and Rahul Chahar took two wickets each to restrict Kolkata to 9/146.

The IPL is being held in the UAE behind closed doors after being shifted out of India due to the rising coronavirus cases.