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India Gazette
an hour ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
"He shifted gears, played responsibly": Robin Uthappa reflects on Rohit Sharma's match winning innings against GT
New Delhi [India] May 31 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa observed that Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Rohit Sharma initially faced some challenges against his recent outing against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the eliminator-1 in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), on Friday. But he believed Rohit regained control, played smart, and formed important partnerships. He highlighted Rohit's composure under pressure, emphasising that when players like Rohit are batting, the focus shifts to the other players. Uthappa also noted that Sai Sudharsan is showing signs of reaching a similar level of skill. The 'Hitman' delivered yet another big match performance for MI, helping them down GT by 20 runs in a high-scoring eliminator at Mullanpur on Friday, booking a spot with Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a spot in the IPL final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). 'After the early drop, Rohit flirted with danger briefly but quickly recognised the need to take control. He shifted gears, played responsibly, found the gaps, and built key partnerships. His composure stood out. When players like Rohit, Dhoni, or Kohli are at the crease, the pressure is on everyone else. Sai Sudharsan is starting to reach that level too,' JioStar expert Robin Uthappa said while speaking on Match Centre Live on JioHotstar. Now in 14 games, Rohit has scored 410 runs at an average of 31.53, with four half-centuries and a strike rate of 150.18. His best score this season is 81. He is MI's second-best batter after Suryakumar Yadav (673 runs in 15 innings with five fifties). In the same match, Rohit Sharma crossed the 7000-run milestone in the cash-rich league, becoming just the second after his long-time compatriot Virat Kohli to achieve the feat. Rohit has 7038 runs under his belt in 271 matches at 29.82, with two centuries and 47 fifties and a best score of 109*. (ANI)
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘When you have a winning culture…': Head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Mumbai Indians' ability to perform under high pressure
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.'
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Full list of most Player of the Match (PoTM) awards in IPL: Rohit's 81 vs GT helps him win 21st PoTM; Extends his unique record
Full list of most Player of the Match (PoTM) titles in IPL: As Mumbai Indians reached the penultimate stop of the Indian Premier League after beating Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator in Mullanpur on Saturday, Rohit Sharma was adjudged the Player of the Match (PoTM) for his match-defining 81 off 50, which laid the base for the five-time champions to put a big total on the board. After deciding to bat first, the Hardik Pandya side got off to a blazing start thanks to their latest replacement, England's Jonny Bairstow. It didn't seem as if Bairstow was playing his first game in this IPL 2025 and took Prasidh Krishna — the Purple Cap holder this season — to the cleaners right from the get-go with ease. In an innings which had multiple reprieves for former India Test captain Rohit punished GT for their mistakes. Rohit was dropped by Gerald Coetzee when he was batting on just three off Krishna before GT's replacement keeper Kusal Mendis grassed his catch in the very next over when the Mumbai batter was batting on 12. After that, Rohit was just flawless. He struck nine fours and four sixes, to become the first Indian to hit 300 maximums in IPL en route to his 81. He added 84 for the opening wicket in just 44 deliveries before stitching another fifty-stand, this time with Suryakumar Yadav for the third wicket. His third wicket stand with Tilak Varma was worth 43 off 22 before he was dismissed when Rashid Khan caught him, finally, off Krishna. His slambang innings helped MI post 228, which eventually turned out to be sufficient as MI beat GT by 20 runs, making it into Qualifier 2, where they will face Punjab Kings for a place in the final, which will be against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This was Rohit's 21st PoTM in IPL, the most by any Indian and overall third-most after AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. De Villiers, who played for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru throughout his career, was instrumental in numerous wins for his teams and won the Player of the Match award for a record 25 times. Gayle sits second with 22 awards. Among Indians, Virat Kohli (19) sits second, MS Dhoni (18) sixth, and Yusuf Pathan (16) is ninth in the list. Another big match winners like David Warner, Sunil Narine, Shane Watson and Andre Russell also find themselves in the top 10 list of players with the most PoTM.
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Business Standard
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Winning mindset matters in big games, says Jayawardene on MI team culture
The winning culture that Mumbai Indians have built over the years with their core group of players does help them perform in high-pressure situations, said head coach Mahela Jayawardene after their tight win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL Eliminator here. Having won five titles, the storied franchise is one step away from reaching another IPL final. With Sai Sudharsan looking unstoppable in the middle, Titans were on course to chase down 229 in the knock-out game on Friday but individual brilliance from the likes of Jasprit Bumrah enabled Mumbai Indians to get over the line. Like they usually do, Mumbai Indians were slow starters this season before lifting their game in the second half of the tournament. Jaywardene gave his thoughts on what makes them tick on the big stage. "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 referring to the core including Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Bumrah, who have been part of the team's triumphant campaigns over the years. The seniors know all about winning and they try to inculcate the same spirit in the youngsters who join the squad. "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," said the Sri Lankan great. Bumrah massive asset for us, Rohit showed he is made for big stage While Bumrah got them back in the match by castling Washington Sundar with a yorker, Rohit rode his luck early to make 81 off 50 balls after being dropped twice in the powerplay. On the lead pacer, who returned from a long injury lay-off in the middle of the season, Mahela said: Tthere 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)." Mahela said Rohit's hand at the top of the order was equally important. "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." He also said rookie pacer Ashwani Kumar is a fine talent and needs to be groomed properly by the franchise. Didn't expect heavy dew The heavy dew in the second half of the game aided Sudharsan and Washington who were collecting boundaries at will in the run chase. Mahela said they forced to change their plans considering the unexpected dew. "I didn't anticipate dew because I was here practising and knew yesterday's game as well (Qualifier 1), there wasn't much dew. "I looked at the wicket, we had a chat, we felt that against this opposition that batting first is the right call. So, we played tactically, brilliantly, the way we batted, the tempo was great and we put runs on the board and took that early wicket of Shubman as well, which was a massive one. "But halfway stage, I saw the dew coming we had to make a call, there was a, like planning wise, we were thinking, long boundaries, the way we gripped, the leg spinner might be an option for us, but we then took that out and then bowl Ashwini. "Changed our plans to bowl yorkers, as much as we can, because the balls were skidding through." Mahela praises Sudharsan Mahela has been left impressed with the way Sudharsan batted this season. He backed the left-hander to do well on his maiden Test tour of England. "Well, I have enjoyed his batting. I have to be honest, he is a good lefty, good cricketing shots, has a good head on his shoulder as well. "So, I am sure he will do well. It will be a challenge in England, like we have all done that in the past, but I think he will find a way to do what he needs to do," Mahela added.
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First Post
9 hours ago
- Sport
- First Post
Shubman Gill's 'reactive' captaincy criticised by former Indian cricketer: 'It was a misstep'
Shubman Gill's captaincy is facing criticism from a former Indian cricketers after Gujarat Titans were eliminated from IPL 2025 with a defeat to Mumbai Indians. read more Shubman Gill's strategy of using Prasidh Krishna during IPL 2025 Eliminator is being criticised. Image: Reuters Shubman Gill's captaincy was criticised by former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa for being 'reactive' rather than proactive, as he called out the way the Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper used pacer Prasidh Krishna during the loss against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Eliminator on Friday. Gujarat Titans were eliminated from IPL 2025 after suffering a 20-run loss to MI after conceding 228 in the first innings in Mullanpur. The Purple Cap holder with 25 wickets, Krishna, went for 53 runs in his fours and took two wickets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also Read | How Mumbai Indians' IPL 2025 Eliminator win underlined their biggest strength His first two overs accounted for 36 runs and no wickets in the powerplay before he was taken out of the attack. Krishna returned in the backend and registered figures of 17/2 from two overs. Uthappa criticises Gill's captaincy in Eliminator Uthappa slammed Gill for using Prasidh Krishna in the powerplay when he has already proven himself to be the best bet for the middle overs. He also criticised GT fielders, who dropped Rohit Sharma twice as he went on to smash a match-winning 81 off 50 balls. 'GT's strategy was more reactive than proactive. Using Prasidh in the powerplay – despite his success in middle overs – was a misstep. His first over was expensive, and they failed to course-correct,' Uthappa said on JioStar. 'The 26-run and 22-run overs proved costly. On top of that, their fielding let them down. You can't drop that many catches and expect to win a championship,' he added. Also Read | MI coach Mahela Jayawardene hails 'big-game player' Rohit Sharma Rohit was dropped twice during his innings, first by Gerald Coetzee off Krishna's bowling and later by wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis off Mohammed Siraj. 'After the early drop, Rohit flirted with danger briefly but quickly recognised the need to take control. He shifted gears, played responsibly, found the gaps, and built key partnerships. His composure stood out,' Uthappa said about Rohit's match-winning knock. 'When players like Rohit, Dhoni, or Kohli are at the crease, the pressure is on everyone else. Sai Sudharsan is starting to reach that level too,' he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
