IPL 2017 Final: I always had the confidence in my bowlers to do the job: Rohit Sharma

Rohit-Sharma
Rohit Sharma on Sunday became the most successful captain in the history of IPL by lifting the trophy for a third time. Image Source: twitter

Internet Desk: Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma admitted he was always confident of his bowlers to restrict the opponents from successfully chasing the target set by them. Mumbai Indians restricted the Rising Pune Supergiant to 128/6 to clinch their third IPL title.

The Mumbai Indians captain kept his cool and manoeuvred his bowlers brilliantly in a low scoring final where Mumbai got over the line by 1 run against Rising Pune Supergiant at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Johnson, all bowled brilliantly in the death overs to defend the low total set by the MI batsmen.

“There was assistance from the pitch, so it was a matter of exploiting the conditions. When three overs were left, I had confidence in the bowlers. They have always done the job wherever they’ve played. It was about giving freedom to them because they’re the masters and they’ve done it before. I just told them to do whatever they want and set the field accordingly,” said Rohit about his bowlers.

The Rising Pune Supergiant batsmen had themselves to blame for making the low total look a difficult one. It was Mumbai Indians who kept their nerves and pulled off an unlikely win after a par first innings total.

“I’m calm now. It was a great game of cricket. I’m sure the spectators enjoyed it. To be able to defend a score like this was a brilliant effort, I couldn’t ask for more. Whenever you’re defending a total like that, the first thing you’ve to do is believe. I told the boys if we could do it against KKR (105) there was no way we couldn’t do it here,” said Sharma after winning the tensed final.

Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled brilliantly in the death, was confident about restricting the opposition. According to Bumrah,”The way we fought was absolutely amazing. We thought we can defend, we have the bowlers.”

Johnson, who took two wickets in the last over, said, “I wasn’t thinking much. I had a clear plan, to bowl at the stumps. Pressure situations are you are playing game for. I have done that before. It’s my second time (IPL titles).”

MI mentor Sachin Tendulkar described the outcome of the low-scoring match as “simply amazing.”

“The first half wasn’t good for us. But we thought right and the performance followed.”

The master blaster added, “It was some amazing bowling and great fielding in the pressure situations.”