Mumbai Indians opener Parthiv Patel has backed the team management’s decision to not use Rohit Sharma as an opener so far in this season.
The India opener opened the innings for his IPL team last season and was their most successful batsman with 489 runs in 14 matches. However, the two-time IPL champions have promoted Jos Buttler to open the innings with Parthiv Patel while Sharma came at number three and four positions in the first two games. Sharma’s major chunk of success in the game has come as an opener but Parthiv said that playing him as a middle-order batsman provides stability to the team.
“The year before (2015) when we won the championship, with myself and Lendl (Simmons) opening we were successful. With Rohit coming down, it gives stability to the batting order and gives us freedom to play shots in the first six overs. In the first two games we gave good starts, but lost wickets at the wrong time,” said Patel ahead of Wednesday’s game against defending champions, Sun Risers Hyderabad.
The wicketkeeper-batsman further said his team was confident of pulling out an unlikely win against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday (April 9) at home. The hosts needed 49 runs off the last 18 balls but reached the target with one ball to spare courtesy of some unbelievable hitting from Nitish Rana and Hardik Pandya.
“This is a tournament in which lots of runs have been scored in the last few overs. We were always confident, especially with the way Hardik (Pandya) was batting in the nets or even in the last game. We knew if we can take it deep we can always chase anything on this ground. Obviously, dew was a very big factor, I think. But it was good to get a win early in the season.”
Patel also praised the way Nitish Rana for his matured innings against Kolkata. The youngster mixed caution with aggression and scored 50 from only 29 balls to help his team register its first win of the season.
“He batted very well in last season’s last game as well. He showed how well he can bat and accelerate. He’s definitely a quality player and showed in both the games. He definitely has both sides of the game. He knocked about the first few balls and then played big shots. He can play both ways,” he noted.
Speaking on his captain getting the official reprimand after showing dissent to an umpiring decision, Parthiv commented:“Nothing been told to us. I can’t comment on umpiring as they cut a lot of money (as fines for such offences). Players don’t talk too much about it. Whatever happen, happens in the heat of the moment and then players move on.”