Pant stood silent at mid-off, eyes fixed on the scoreboard long after the last ball was hit. That score felt just out of reach, he said later, like stretching too late for something slipping away. A handful more during those middle overs might’ve changed how things unfolded under these lights. Chasing didn’t seem so bold when they started, yet two calm batters kept finding gaps without rushing. Eight deliveries remained unused when the winning run crossed. Each boundary added weight to what had been left behind earlier in the innings. Now every upcoming match feels heavier than the one before.
“The way we started, I think we should have gotten more runs. Definitely the boys played freely, but in the end, I think they (MI) bowled well because they are used to these conditions, for sure,” said Pant in the post-match presentation.
“Definitely, we were short by 10-15 runs because it was a 220-230 wicket for sure. And the way we started, we had that edge over them. But at the same time, on a wicket like this, you can’t blame bowlers all the time.” Pant said a slice of luck in the remaining matches could turn things around for LSG, expressing hope of a late revival.
For sure, the LSG bowlers have put in strong work. Nothing more comes to mind when thinking about their effort. Perhaps a bit of fortune could shift things. That thought sticks most right now. Some good luck might just sort things out. Still, we will need to put in extra work, that much is certain,” he said.
That fast start by LSG worried Suryakumar Yadav, even though he stepped in as Mumbai’s captain. Still, remembering older games helped his team tighten up later. They held firm because they’d seen it before.
Truth is, this kinda moment? We’ve seen it plenty times already this year. Honestly, nothing fresh here at all. Still – once past the powerplay, say overs seven through ten, T20 shifts hard. That stretch? Where things turn, if you’re ready.
“We knew two wickets here and there, and I can take control of the game. And the way all the bowlers responded, I think they showed a lot of character,” said Suryakumar.
Amazing how MI reeled it in, clamping down hard on LSG’s batsmen. He said it stood out more than anything else.
“I think the performance was unbelievable. Everyone had that belief, they had their clear plans. I didn’t tell them anything. It was just little, little backing involved in a few situations. But then at the end of the day, the way they displayed their character and the way they bowled, I think it’s commendable.” On the 200-plus chase, he pointed out that Mumbai had earlier posted 244 against Sunrisers Hyderabad and still ended up on the losing side, which reinforced the belief that even a 220-plus total can be chased.
Truth is, we made 244 recently and Sunrisers still caught up. That told us early: totals near 220, maybe 225 or even 230, aren’t safe here. Our start with the bat? Solid. Ryan Rickelton finding flow, timing clean. Then there’s Rohit Sharma – back in the group, fully fit, sharp, eager – mentioned it right after winning the toss.
“And the way he displayed, the way he showed the entertainment to the crowd, I think it was unbelievable. I think it’s always important to have a good start when you’re chasing 200-225. And the way they batted together, it looked like they were always in control,” he added.
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