MI, one of the top ranked teams in the IPL, failed to chase down a stumpy total of 129 runs set by the Pune Warriors in their quota of 20 overs. In pursuit of 129, the Indians could only manage 101 runs while losing nine wickets in the process.
The Mumbai Indians did not go about the chase properly as held by the skipper Harbhajan. The off-spinner believes that losing key wickets at the start of the innings hurt the MI badly and they were always on the back foot, but that said, Harbhajan finds no excuse for losing the match.
He said, “We bowled very well to restrict them to 129. But we lost too many wickets up front (3 wickets for 5 runs) and from then played catch-up. Dinda bowled well at the top and got them the breakthroughs. It was a total that should have been chased whatever be the nature of the wicket. It was a game that we should have won.”
Harbhajan blamed the batsmen for the loss. He said, “We did not start well in the run chase. I thought we didn't bat well. We panicked in the middle overs and didn't rotate strike. But we did well in the second half when Dinesh Kartik and James Franklin put on that partnership.”
MI started IPL5 tournament on a high note, as they defeated the defending champions the Chennai Super Kings in their own backyard. However, the Indians suffered a big blow in that match, when their batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar got smacked on his finger and was unable to play. Sachin was rested for the clash against the Pune Warriors, because of the injury.
Harbhajan admitted that his side missed the services of the legendary batsman but he urged other batsmen to step up and take more responsibility, as they cannot rely on one player only.
Mumbai Indians next fixture is against the Deccan Chargers, and the match will take place on Monday, April 9 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.
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