IPL 2022: When you play a new team, some players take time to understand their role, says Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma
IPL 2022: Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma remarked on Saturday that his team’s poor performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2022 was down to some players failing to grasp their roles.
MI won the game by five wickets, chasing down the target of 160 set by Delhi Capitals at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, thanks to a superb Jasprit Bumrah spell (3/25) and fine knocks from Ishan Kishan (48), Dewald Brevis (37) and Tim David (34) who helped MI end their disappointing season with a bang. Royal Challengers Bangalore has advanced to the playoffs, where they will face Lucknow Super Giants in an eliminator.
“This season has been disappointing for us because we could not get a lot of things right during the first half. In tournaments like this, you have to build momentum for your team quickly. Initially, losing matches one after the other was a difficult time and we could not execute plans properly. But in the second half, we performed well with both ball and bat,” said Sharma in a post-match conference.
“It happens when you play a new team. Some players take time in understanding their role. This is normal and it has happened with our team,” he added.
Sharma remarked that his team’s performance in the final six or seven games will serve as a lesson for them and help them get a better start the next time around.
The captain expressed disappointment with his batting throughout the season, but noted that he had gone through similar spells in the past.
“Cricket does not end here, there is a lot of cricket left. I have to handle myself mentally and think about how I can come back from it and perform well. There are some minor adjustments which I will try to make during off time,” he added.
The season was a disappointment for Rohit Sharma, who managed only 268 runs at a dismal average of 19.14. The ‘Hitman,’ as he is known to supporters, did not score a single half-century this time around.
DC captain Rishabh Pant, Sharma added, is a good leader who would come back stronger next time.
“We all have seen how he led his team in the past season. Sometimes things do not go your way. I have been through these situations before and I was just telling him that these things happen on the ground and there is not much harm in it. You can take a lot of learnings from it and try to keep things simple. Also he has got a great mind and reads the game well. It is a high-pressure game and also these fumbles can happen. It is important not to lose confidence and start doubting yourself,” he added.
Coming into the match, Jasprit Bumrah (3/25) bowled a brilliant performance to keep DC to a modest 159/7 in their 20 overs. Rishabh Pant (39) and Rovman Powell (43) led their team in scoring. MI lost their captain Rohit Sharma early in the chase for only 2. Ishan Kishan (48), Dewald Brevis (37), Tilak Varma (21). And also Tim David (34) batted well to keep MI in the game, which they eventually won by five wickets.
MI finishes the season on a high note, collecting two more points. With eight points, they finish their miserable season at the bottom of the standings. DC finishes the season in fifth place with 14 points.
With this win over MI, RCB has officially qualified for the playoffs. On May 25, they will face LSG in the elimination round. On May 25, the Gujarat Titans will face the Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 1.
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