Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel played down the Bombay High Court asking the BCCI to shift the IPL games after 30th April out of Maharashtra. Mumbai Indians crashed to a nine-wicket loss against Rising Pune Supergiants in the first match of the tournament at Wankhede before bouncing back to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders in its second game in an away encounter. Back at Wankhede to take on Gujarat Lions, Parthiv said that his team isn’t worried over the shift.
ON THE VENUE SHIFT:
That’s something which is not in our control. We still have four (three) games here and we would rather put our energy into it. It’s just the start of the tournament and we are picking up a bit of momentum. There is no point in shifting our focus to something which is not in our control.
I don’t think its happening suddenly. We have played a home game and an away game. That’s something as a player what we have been taught: not to worry about external things and focus on your game. Home game or away game… it doesn’t matter. You have to go out there and try to win. As a sportsperson you always want challenges and Mumbai Indians is the team which can play in any conditions.
ON HARDIK PANDYA BATTING AT THREE:
He is a quality player. He had a very good Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Baroda batting at number three. He has got a lot of runs. If he is batting at three, it gives (the team) a very good balance to bat on. It gives Rayudu, Pollard and Buttler a nice stage to bat on. Playing for Mumbai Indians shows that he has got the talent.
ON McCLENAGHAN BATTING AT FOUR:
That was the coach’s decision. Before sending him, he sent a message to Rohit. He played a very crucial role. Usually, when a wicket falls, the momentum shifts a little bit, but he made brilliant 20 runs and that made a huge difference.
ON SIMMONS’ UNAVAILABILITY AND HOW IT WOULD AFFECT HIM:
Lendl has been a brilliant player for us. Last two years he has scored a lot of runs for us. This gives an opportunity for another player. I and he had a good opening partnership last year. Now it gives me a chance to open with Rohit. He is in good form and makes batting look easy. It gives you confidence at the other end as well.
ON WICKETKEEPING IN T20s:
It’s a specialist job. If you see a lot of players run a lot of byes, we practice accordingly. We practice our throws as well. In T20 cricket, there are different stumping chances, off-side yorkers, come. So, we prepare accordingly. It is a very important job. One missed stumping or a catch at a crucial point could turn the game around. We have Jonty, who knows what kind of things could come.
ON PONTING:
He is brilliant. He always backs any player. He gives us that space and tells us if you can take on someone, try and do it. That’s how he has played and he rubs that on to other players. His positive energy is very important. Whether we win or lose, he ensures that the atmosphere in the dressing room stays balanced. That’s the reason we could make a comeback last year (and win the tournament). Losing the first game (in this season) hardly made an impact, and we started fresh for the Kolkata game. That’s how Australia played under him.
Ricky and Rohit have been fantastic in handling the team. I have seen a couple of double-centuries of him standing behind the wicket.
ON COREY ANDERSON:
We have a kind of team where every individual is important. I don’t think it would be fair on me to say that one player would make a huge difference to the team. Every player is as important as the captain or the 20th player of the team.
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