Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma, addressing a press conference after winning his fifth and Mumbai Indians’ fourth IPL title, said that he is really happy that his team was the one to go through the finishing line.
Further, the MI skipper reiterated that MI is a collective team effort, not a one-man show.
When asked about his favourite IPL victory, out of the five he’s played, Sharma said that he can’t pick one, since every season has its own challenge.
“Every season has its own challenge and to cross those challenges, takes a lot of effort. So for me, all five i’d cherish and remember and not pick one since that’d be unfair.”Rohit Sharma, Captain, Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma also said that knowing the batsman on the last ball, Shardul Thakur, he said that he knew that the batsman will go for a big shot. He said that him and Malinga collectively decided on a slower yorker, risking a big hit.
“I know Shardul really well, he plays for Mumbai and i’ve known him for a long time so i kind of understand where he want to hits. So, me and Malinga decided together that will go for the slower delivery because knowing Shardul, he would try to play a big shot and might just sky it up. But again, it could have gone wither way, he could have middled the ball and it could have cleared the ground also but at that point, you have to be brave, take those crucial decisions.”Rohit Sharma, Skipper, Mumbai Indians
“So we’ve decided we’ll go for the slower ball, no matter what happens. If they get it, they get it,” he said.
When asked to give Maling the last over, Sharma said that the decision looks all nice when it comes off. Not so much when it doesn’t. He said that he went with Malinga because of the experience the Sri Lankan pacer brings with him.
“Malinga has been in that scenario a million times. So we backed him to do that. I clearly remember the last time, in 2017, it was Mitchell Johnson who bowled that last over, defending only 10 runs. So yes, sometimes you have to go with instinct, sometimes you got to just go a little backwards and think what these players have done and what they bring to the table.”Rohit Sharma, Skipper, Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma also stressed on the importance of strategising and planning out things. He said that having a staff around you that work day-in and day-out to come out with plans and strategies after reading the opposition’s game really helps, along with believing in each other’s abilities.
“Luckily, i have a staff around me for that, which is so good at planning and making those crucial decisions, strategies. I’m a firm believer in having a plan, whatever game you play, you have to go with a plan. IPL, i’ve seen that you need to be a little dynamic and different as to what you want to achieve on the field and i have a staff around me who has tasted success and has had so much success in playing this format also.”Rohit Sharma, Skipper, Mumbai Indians
“So i got to give credit to my staff and the members of the team also. Certain strategies that we take up against other teams have worked for us,” Rohit said.
Talking about the upcoming World Cup, Sharma said that all 15 players’ form makes him feel good about India’s prospects in the World Cup.
“We’ve read the conditions here really well and that is paying its dividends.”Rohit Sharma
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