IPL 2023: We could not capitalise on good start, were 30-40 runs short – Rohit Sharma after loss against CSK

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma admitted they could not make the most of their good start against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Saturday after their seven-wicket loss. MI scored 38 runs in the first four overs after CSK’s skipper MS Dhoni decided to bowl first.

However, they veered off the track in the middle overs as their batters could not get going. After the PowerPlay overs, the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner turned the screws on the hosts’ batters.

Jadeja and Santner collectively took five wickets between them to leave MI tottering at 102-6 after 13 overs. Jadeja returned with figures of 3-20 whereas Santner had 2-28 as the spin duo conceded only 48 runs in the eight overs they bowled.

MI kept losing wickets at regular intervals and despite Tim David (31 off 22) and Hrithik Shoukeen (18 off 13) adding finishing touches, they could only manage a sub-par score of 157 runs on the board.

On the other hand, CSK got off to a poor start as Devon Conway played on in the first over. However, Ajinkya Rahane, making his CSK debut, was able to hit the ground running with a flick shot. Rahane took 23 runs off Arshad Khan’s over and completed the fastest fifty of the season, off just 19 balls.

Rahane scored an enterprising knock of 61 runs off just 27 balls before he was dismissed by Piyush Chawla.

Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation, “We lost our way in the middle, did not capitalise on the start we got. It was a good pitch, 30-40 runs short and could not capitalise in the middle overs. Got to credit their spinners, they bowled well and kept us under pressure. You need to try out different things, you need to attack and be brave. We have got a couple of young guys and got to give some time to them. They have real talent and we have to back them and show trust in their ability which we are doing.”

He added, “The senior guys need to step up starting with me. We know the nature of IPL, when the tournament starts we need to get some momentum and when you don’t it is tough. Just two games and all is not lost still. If you win, you can win a few on the trot and when you lose it is hard to come out of that momentum. Hopefully things start to change. Things we speak in the changeroom has not worked in the middle. We know we had a very disappointing last season, but we always start afresh, even when we won the 5 trophies, we never thought we won it last year. Every opposition is quality here and we need to be at our best to beat them. These two games has happened, we can’t change. Of course we can learn and be more brave in changing things on the field.”

This was MI’s second loss in as many matches and they will need to turn the tables in the upcoming games. MI will next face Delhi Capitals on Tuesday in an away fixture.