Mumbai fails to qualify for play-offs

Abu Dhabi: Pushed to the brink, Mumbai Indians put on a batting spectacle at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday night.

Their 42-run win proved an effort in vain, though. Ishan Kishan’s blitzkrieg (84; 32b, 4×11, 6×4), Suryakumar Yadav’s splendid 82 (39b, 4×13, 6×3) and Mumbai Indians’ 235/9 – their highest in IPL – was not enough to stop them from exiting the tournament.

Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians captain, said, ‘ (Additional pressure?) When you play for a franchise like Mumbai, you are always expected to go out and perform. I wouldn’t call that as pressure. More than anything, it’s expectations. It was very tough (to drop big players), I want to back the players and keep the same squad going. We have had on and off season this time around. We have had a fabulous run as a franchise. It was wonderful to be part of this set-up, we can be very proud of that. We were getting momentum in Delhi and there was a break, that didn’t help the team. It was a collective failure of group. Very happy with win today, we gave everything, I am sure it was entertaining for the fans as well. They have always been supportive, they have always stood by us. Little disappointed we didn’t go through. He (Ishan Kishan) is a very talented player, just the right position for him to bat is very crucial. Today was a perfect game for him. That is the situation he likes. It was wonderful to see from the other end.’

Ishan Kishan l, Player of the Match, said, ‘A very good thing for me and for the team getting some runs, and getting into good touch before the World Cup. Was in good state of mind, was very positive. We had to get somewhere around 250-260, it was the intent and positive intent. The one I smacked off Malik through the covers – that’s the one (his favourite shot). In this tournament, you have to be prepared for every circumstances. It’s important to be in the right mindset and you need to go with your best form. I had a good chat with Virat bhai, Jasprit bhai also helped me. Even HP, KP were there to support me. Everyone supported me and they said it’s a learning stage for you, make sure you learn from here and don’t make the same mistakes in the upcoming world cup games. That was the part where I learned from them. I was just taking one point at a time. I would love to open and that’s what Virat bhai said – ‘you are selected as an opener, you just have to be prepared for that.’ In the bigger stage, you need to be prepared for every situation I feel.

Manish Pandey, SRH (losing) captain, said, ‘ It was really hot, and it was an intense 20 overs. My calves are a bit cramped. I think the surface was the best of the tournament. We knew MI would come hard at us and they did. Our fast bowlers gave away a few extra runs that cost us in the end, but this was the best pitch of the tournament. We had a lot of changes in the side, that didn’t work for us. We were struggling in the first few games too, and had to pull ourselves up in the second leg but the whole team didn’t put in complete performances, despite some really good individual performances.’

Suryakumar Yadav, said, ‘I am good, I am good (smiles, on how he is doing after being hit by a short ball). That’s how it should be Pommie Mbangwa. At the end of the day the show must go on and you got to keep smiling whatever happens. We had nothing to lose. We had a target, we just kept running behind it. The pitch was good. Happy to be on the winning side. It is a big tournament (T20 WC). We don’t change anything. The process, routine all remain the same. Really looking forward to it.’