Even after four consecutive wins, MI batting coach Kieron Pollard insists team aren’t satisfied, will continue to improve in all facets against LSG
MI pacer Trent Boult during a practice session at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. Pic/Atul Kamble
What Mumbai Indians (MI) have learnt perfectly as compared to other teams in the last 17 editions of the IPL is the art of finding momentum at the right time.
The five-time champions started their IPL-18 campaign with a loss in an away game against Chennai Super Kings on March 23. In four of their first five games, MI suffered defeats. However, they bounced back strongly to beat Delhi Capitals, CSK (in the return game) and outclassed Sunrisers Hyderabad twice (at home and away) in the last four matches.
But, MI’s batting coach Kieron Pollard is not satisfied. He wants more when they take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Wankhede Stadium today. “Every time you play a game of cricket or you are in competition, there are always areas to improve. You are never really happy or satisfied with what you have achieved or what you have done. You are always wanting for more and that goes for us in life as well as human beings.
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Kieron Pollard
“For us [MI], we just continue to look to improve in all three facets of the game. There are certain junctures where we need to continue to win critical moments. The more we can do that consistently, it is going to be better for us,” Pollard said during MI’s pre-match press conference on Saturday.
‘Always believed in Rohit’
When asked about opener Rohit Sharma’s return to form, Pollard said: “For us, we always had that belief that he’s [Rohit] going to come good.”
Rohit scored just 82 runs in the first six games, but scored back-to-back half-centuries (unbeaten 76 vs CSK and 70 vs SRH) in the previous two games.
“There are dips, there’s low confidence, but for someone who has played this sport for a long time, you have these moments and sometimes you just need that extra support from people. Now, we’re singing his praises; we’re all very happy. In the Mumbai dressing room, we were happy at the start as well, knowing that it was going to happen. Long may it [his form] continue, so the headlines are going to be about that,” Pollard added.
And when their stars, like opener Rohit (228 runs) and fit-again speedster Jasprit Bumrah (five scalps in five games), are back in form, it is a warning bell for opponents. Even LSG’s India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who has claimed eight wickets from nine games this season, admitted that it will be a challenge facing them. “It’s a tough challenge because they [MI] have been doing very well in the last few games and are back in form. It’s a tough game for us, but it’s an afternoon game and we think the bowlers will also get some help if it [pitch] is a little dry,” Bishnoi said.
Shardul key for LSG
The visitors’ bowling hopes rest mainly on Mumbai boy Shardul Thakur, who is their top wicket-taker (12 in nine games), and in-form pacer Avesh Khan (eight wickets in eight matches). But it will depend on how Thakur manages to counter his Mumbai teammates Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav’s (MI’s highest run-getter with 373 runs) attacking intentions.
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