Although, Mumbai Indians got triggered their Indian Premier League championship defence on the erroneous direction, but skipper Rohit Sharma thinks that they has soaked up loads from the 41-run defeat in the hands of the champions of the 2012 season Kolkata Knight Riders in their opening match on Wednesday.
KKR elected to bat and scratched a handsome 163 for five based upon Jacques Kallis‘ 46-ball 72 and Manish Pandey‘s 64 from 53 balls. When it comes to their bowling, they blocked the defending champion to 122 for seven at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. However, Caribbean Sunil Narine got a comeback with a match-winning four for 20.
“It’s disheartening, first game of the edition. Lots to learn from this match. We will take the positives from this match, although there weren’t many. I hope the guys remain positive and enjoy each other’s presence. It’s a long tournament,” Rohit said.
It was the strong partnership of 92-ball 131 runs scored by Kallis and Pandey which turned around the wind of the match to KKR’s pocket and which makes Rohit to kudos the KKR batsmen. “They batted very well, we didn’t get a wicket when we desired and they knew with eight wickets in hand they went after the bowling. We attempted our best, Malinga paced very well and I anticipate the guys can turn it around as fast as possible,” he said.
“There was a satisfactory bit of grass on the stumps, there was a bit of a rebound. Odd balls were stopping and coming so it wasn’t good. It played well, but we didn’t bat well. Still 13 more matches and I desire we come again forcibly.” He added.
Be that as it may, Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir seems confident as his side arrived finally ‘winning most times’ if it puts together a huge score, which definitely is going to accompany the bowling attack it retains.
“We’ve got a very aggressive bowling attack and if we score runs on the board most of the times we’ll finish up winning.” Gambhir seems pretty confident while attending the pot-match presentation event.
“A quality batsman like Kallis knows when to expedite and if either of him or I remains till the 15th over we’ll get a good score. We have Morne’s (Morkel) pace and Narine and (Piyush) Chawla in the spin section and Vinay’s (Kumar) is quite good at the death as well,” he added.
Kallis, who got retreated from the international Test cricket format, has been named as the Man of the Match and has showed his reaction that he is very excited to play a match like this after his comeback after a break. “Had a sound few months off. It’s cordial to bring back with friends and family, but I stick it out on my cricket to contribute Kolkata this season. There was more bounce, which befitted. Kept the good balls out at the start and thumped it in the death.” Kallis stated.
Nevertheless, the Proteas stalwart applauded Morkel and Narine a lot. “Morne began great at the start with the ball and Narine was superb as well. I apparently haven’t got too many years left and I’m just anticipating to having some fun in the middle.”