The three-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI) is very close to qualifying for the IPL 2019 playoffs. However, their all-rounder Krunal Pandya has recently claimed that they are just focusing on the last two league stage games.
The IPL 2019 league stage has entered the final week. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC) have already secured their spots for the IPL 2019 playoffs as they have already earned 16 points in 12 matches.
At present, MI is in the third position in the IPL 2019 points table along with 14 points in 12 matches. While MI will play two more matches in the league stage, another victory will secure their place for the playoffs. Even if they lose both their upcoming matches, they can still qualify for the playoffs.
MI has decent experiences in the ongoing IPL season despite they sometimes failed to maintain consistency.
The 28-year-old all-rounder Krunal Pandya is obviously happy for their present position in the IPL 2019. The left-arm spinner has taken eight wickets this season after playing 12 matches (average 29.87 and economy rate 7.70). Meanwhile, the left-handed middle-order batsman has scored 167 runs this season with an average of 18.55.
He recently said, “It (the season) has been very good for us (the team), specially like after playing 12 games, we are almost there at (with) 14 points and still there are two games to go, so it has been a good season for us.”
I guess we are not thinking of playoffs or anything – Krunal Pandya
MI will play their last two league stage matches in the ongoing season at their home venue, Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai). They will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on 2nd May while their next match will be against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on 5th May. SRH is currently in the fourth position in the points table with 12 points in 12 matches.
Krunal Pandya is focusing only on the last two league stage games. He doesn’t want to think about the playoffs at the present moment.
He added, “I guess we (the team) are not thinking of (about) playoffs or anything. We are just focussing on next two games, which are league games, and we just want to do well in those two games and then (we will) see how it goes into the playoffs.”
MI has already played five home matches this season. Out of those, they have won thrice and lost twice.