Mumbai, April 4: Mumbai Indians (MI) interim captain Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged that his team fell short by 15-20 runs in their recent match against Delhi Capitals (DC), resulting in a 6-wicket loss at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.
On a slow pitch, Suryakumar showcased his skills, scoring the highest for MI with 51 runs, helping the team post a total of 162 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs. However, Delhi Capitals chased down the target, scoring 163 runs in just 18.1 overs, thanks to a remarkable innings of 90 runs by Sameer Rizvi.
Reflecting on the defeat, Suryakumar stated, “I believe it was a decent wicket. We expected it to be a bit slower, but we still fell short by 15-20 runs. I must credit their bowlers as well. The DC batsmen also performed excellently in the second innings.”
Discussing Sameer Rizvi’s outstanding performance, Suryakumar remarked, “Absolutely, after losing two wickets for just 7 runs, for someone to come in and bat like that deserves recognition. Sameer didn’t give us any chance to get back into the match.” He noted that the pitch conditions were largely similar for both innings, but credited the opposing team for better adapting to the situation. He added, “I think the pitch was quite similar in both innings. There wasn’t much change. They understood the conditions very well in the second innings and batted brilliantly.”
Suryakumar also mentioned that MI had aimed for a score of 180-185 runs but fell short. “We thought 180-185 runs would be a good score. We fell behind by 15-20 runs. I believe Naman and I got out at crucial times during the 16th and 18th overs; otherwise, we could have reached a better score.”
On the other hand, Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel, celebrating their second consecutive victory, emphasized the importance of flexibility in T20 cricket. “Clearly, adaptability is crucial—how you perceive the game. If you have players who can play freely and adjust to various conditions, you can utilize them accordingly when the pitch behaves differently. It’s not about sending someone up the batting order and expecting a sudden change; it’s about strategic moves, and when they work, they work.”
Axar discussed the decision to promote Sameer Rizvi in the batting order, stating, “When there’s planning involved, and you practice together and play together, players like Ashutosh also perform well. However, it’s about identifying which player you need on a particular day. If that player performs well for you at that time, it’s fantastic. For me, it’s a good problem to have to make those choices. It shows how strong our bench strength is.”
He further added, “I think it’s crucial to focus on one match at a time. When you’re on a winning streak, maintaining that momentum is vital.” Axar noted that in a major tournament like the IPL, it’s challenging to bounce back once the rhythm is broken, which is why concentrating on one match at a time is the right approach.
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