IPL 2019 | We played good cricket throughout this season, says Rohit Sharma

IPL 2019 | We played good cricket throughout this season, says Rohit Sharma

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BCCI

Rohit Sharma has stated that Mumbai Indians have played good cricket throughout this season of the Indian Premier League and due to which they ended up as the table toppers. MI defeated Chennai Super Kings by one run in the finals in order to become the most successful team of the IPL.

Mumbai Indians won nine out of 14 matches in the league stage of this season of Indian Premier League and even ended up as the table toppers due to a superior run rate. They also won both of their playoff games against Chennai Super Kings. Apart from the usual culprits, most of the players in the squad got a chance to prove their credentials. Even players like Mayank Markande, Rasikh Salam, Anukul Roy, Jayant Yadav and Siddhesh Lad among others got one game at least and thereby, the skipper Rohit Sharma did not fail to credit the entire squad.

“Throughout the tournament, we played some good cricket which was the reason we qualified at the top. We planned to split the tournament into two parts, everything we did as a team, we got the rewards for them. We have a squad of 25 players, everyone came in at some stage and did the job; the support-staff as well,” he said at the post-match presentation ceremony, reported Cricbuzz.

Despite scoring 37 runs in the first four overs, things didn't pan out as the team would have liked. Kieron Pollard blasted an unbeaten 41 off 25 balls and barring him none of the other batsmen was able to cross the 30-run mark. They eventually ended up with a below par total of 149 but the bowlers were ready for the challenge. Mitchell McClenaghan only gave 24 runs in his four overs, while Jasprit Bumrah and Rahul Chahar only gave 14 runs each in their full quota. The former also scalped two wickets while the latter scalped one. 

Krunal Pandya and Lasith Malinga were taken to the cleaners but both returned with one wicket each. The Sri Lankan ‘slinger’ bowled the final over from which nine runs were required. There was a lot of drama as Shane Watson was run out in for 80 but Malinga did not give a single boundary and even dismissed Shardul Thakur when two runs were required off the penultimate ball. The skipper did not have any complaints with the bowlers and even singled out the Sri Lankan skipper for his final over exploits.

“Our bowling in particular was excellent, at different stages in the game, the bowlers put their hands up and brought us back. Every bowler who got an opportunity put their hand up, took responsibility and that's why we got the rewards for it,” explained the 32-year-old.

“Malinga is a champion, he has been doing it for many years for us. I was thinking of Hardik (Pandya) for the final over, but I wanted to back someone who has been in that situation for us before, and Malinga has been there many times,” he added.

Various players from the Mumbai camp have stepped up at different stages throughout the tournament. Bumrah, Malinga and Chahar scalped 19, 16 and 13 wickets respectively while Quinton de Kock ended up with the highest 529 runs. Suryakumar Yadav followed with 424 runs and Kieron Pollard blasted 279 runs at a strike rate of 156.77. However, Hardik Pandya was the standout performer as he amassed 402 runs at an astounding strike rate of 191.42 and also had 14 wickets to his name. The skipper was all praise for his team.

“I am learning in every game, every time I take the field. I have to credit the team as well, it is up to the boys to step up otherwise the captain is made to look foolish. Credit to the boys!” he signed off.

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