‘When you have a winning culture…': Head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Mumbai Indians' ability to perform under high pressure

Indian Express

2 days ago

Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene said that the franchise's winning culture over the years helps them perform in high pressure situations. This was after MI defeated Gujarat Titans by 20 runs on Friday in what turned out to be a pretty close-run affair.
'Well, when you have a winning culture, it is easier to try and have that same thing going through. Even when you get a new group, we still have a very experienced co-group within our ranks. So, the conversations that we have, planning and everything is about, how can we get better, how can we push through,' he said after the match.
'That winning mentality itself comes through from those senior players and having that experience, guys who have won trophies does help and my job is to try and cultivate that for the new guys who are coming into the spot. After the big auction, we had quite a few new faces, but I think telling them about the history of Mumbai and how we go, how we operate and have that attitude that we will never die from a situation, we will always fight through. So, I think that is shown today,' he added.
Jayawardene also singled out Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma for praise after their respective contributions in the Eliminator.
There are definitely no concerns when he comes back because the reputation itself carries through and he was quite confident. He had bowled few sessions, he was nailing those yorkers and all that. He is a massive asset for us, the experience that he carries through to the team and the situation that he has been bowling for us as well. It is great to have him around the group, the experience that he brings, talking to Ashwini (left-arm pacer) in that last over (of the match),' he said on Bumrah.
On Rohit, the coach said, 'Rohit was brilliant. He let Johnny take control initially and then when he knew it was his time and the bowler then he picked and he got into a brilliant tempo. The pressure that he put on the two spinners, especially Sai and Rashid in that situation was absolutely brilliant and that is what Rohit does. Big games he does have a different gear that he plays. That is what experience does and he cannot replace that.'