Chennai Super Kings could not ignore Mustafiz as he was man of the match with 4 wickets in the first match. So Mustafiz was in Chennai’s XI against Gujarat Titans. There was Pathirana too, but he came off as Shivam Dube’s impact sub before bowling the innings of the match. Yesterday these two pacers bowled so well, now not just one, Irfan Pathan-Tom Mudira wants to see both in the Chennai XI.

Mustafiz was wicketless with 23 runs in the first two overs yesterday. However, Mustafiz came back to play his last spell in the ‘death over’. Bangladesh’s left-handed pacer returned two hard hitters Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia of Gujarat Titans with only 7 runs in these 2 overs.

On the other hand, death over specialist Pathirana also bowled brilliantly. He scored 29 runs in 4 overs and took 1 wicket. He gave 15 runs in the last two overs. In other words, these two fast bowlers have spent only 22 runs in 4 overs in the death overs. That’s why Irfan and Moody want both of them in the team together.

In the ESPN Cricinfo post-match event, Mitchell McLenahan said, ‘He might return’ when Mahesh Tikshana, who was left out of the playing XI for the Gujarat match, can return to the XI. But from the wicket I see at the moment, it doesn’t look like he will return right away. Mostafizur’s two slower balls towards the end were superb. There was not much help on the wicket either. Patirana also said very loudly today.

On the other hand, Moody, the former coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad, thinks that these two pacers will remain in the eleven, ‘Tikshana will return to the team, but it does not seem to be a replacement for any of the two pacers. They depend on India’s batting. MS, Jadeja is not getting time on the wicket. This will definitely make their bowling a real threat.’

Mustafiz’s next match is on March 31, against Delhi Capitals, at their home ground.