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Mumbai Indians squad
SR Tendulkar*, AN Ahmed, AC Blizzard, YS Chahal, CRD Fernando, JEC Franklin, Harbhajan Singh, MC Henriques, DJ Jacobs, S Kanwar, DS Kulkarni, SL Malinga, AG Murtaza, MM Patel, KA Pollard, AT Rayudu, R Sathish, RG Sharma, TL Suman, P Suyal, A Symonds, AP Tare†, BSK Yadav, SA Yadav
http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-p...ch/501201.html
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I am comfortable batting anywhere in the order
09.04.2011
Mumbai, BKC, March 27: Rohit Sharma is a limited overs specialist. His incredible feats in the field, both with the bat and the ball, earned him the under-23 Player of the Tournament award in Season-2 of the IPL.
Having tasted success with the Deccan Chargers, Sharma is now back to where he belongs - Mumbai. MumbaiIndians.com caught up with him for an exclusive chat on the eve of the IPL Season-4. Here are a few excerpts from the interview:
How excited are you on coming back to your city Mumbai and representing MI…
I am indeed very happy to be back to Mumbai and playing for the Mumbai Indians. This was the only thing missing from my cricketing portfolio, being a true Mumbaikar. Finally, I will get a chance to play for my city and I am very much looking forward to it.
You had a great time with both the bat and the ball in the previous seasons. How are you planning to sustain the same level of intensity?
All three years have been very good for me. I really had a great time with Deccan chargers. But things keep changing; I am now a part of the Mumbai Indians set-up, the atmosphere will be different. But I want to keep getting better with both the bat and the ball and contribute regularly.
Since coming into the Mumbai Indians scheme of things, how are you preparing yourself for the tournament?
I am very determined, very much eager to perform. Leading into the tournament, you need to be doing what you need to do. We talk about preparing well for the tournament. I am not wasting any time and I am straightaway getting into the thick of the action. We have got good coaches, fantastic facilities. So, we have to make sure we make full use of that.
How do you see yourself going with the willow? And is there any particular position you are comfortable batting at?
I am keen on scoring consistently for the team. Wherever I go, my job is to get runs and see my team through. I have batted in almost all the positions in my career so far, so I am comfortable batting anywhere in the order. Probably, as the tournament progresses, we will know where I would be batting. But I do not think I will be batting at any fixed slot, as the format demands innovation. I think everybody in the team should be flexible. One has to remember that it is a team game and be prepared for that. Ultimately, it depends on the coach and the captain.
You have been criticized for not finishing the matches. Does that haunt you in anyway? Can you express your views on the same?
I have won close games for my previous teams and on some occasions I have also been unable to see the side through. It was disappointing, but it does not haunt me. Sometimes it does enter the mind, but one cannot afford to get disturbed with that. You need to carry on; these things will keep coming up. All you need to do is look back at your mistakes, and then analyze and rectify them. So that the next time you get into a similar situation you are able to handle it better.
Your impression on the MI squad…
Our team looks very formidable; there is no doubt about it. Having a nice blend of youth and experience in the squad will help our cause. There are some explosive hitters and at the same time there are batsmen who can hold the innings together. Our bowling has very good depth. It is a well balanced unit and everybody is charged up. The key will be to prepare ourselves well before we enter the tournament.
http://www.mumbaiindians.com/NewsDet...bNXGhrijgJg%3d
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Sharma XI beats Rayudu XI
08.04.2011
Mumbai, Wankhede Stadium, April 7: The Mumbai Indians played their last practice match before they left for Delhi to play their first game in the IPL…
It was a full Twenty20 match between sides captained by Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu at the Wankhede Stadium on April 7. Batting first, Rayudu XI got off to a cautious but solid start, thanks to their opening pair of Sarul Kanwar and Davey Jacobs who put up a 47-run stand before Kanwar departed for 23 off 18. Soon, Jacobs was also sent back to the hut for 19 off 20 by Ali Murtuza who managed to sneak through his defenses.
Skipper Rayudu and Kiwi all-rounder James Franklin then steadied the innings. Both stuck to their task and added 58 runs for the 3rd wicket partnership with some intelligent batting. Rayudu soon departed for a well made 35 off 28. Franklin and S K Yadav thereafter built fresh momentum to get to a competitive total of 180 in their allotted 20 overs. Towards the end, Yadav played a hurricane knock to score 35 off 19, while Franklin remained not out on 37 off 27.
At the innings break, Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar, who was cheering the boys from the dressing room, came down to address the media who were anxiously waiting to hear from the master on Team India’s recent World Cup triumph. After a brief question-answer session, the match resumed again.
Skipper Sharma took the onus on himself to lead the chase along with Aiden Blizzard. A misunderstanding between the two openers led to Blizzard getting run-out for no score. Wicket-keeper Aditya Tare then joined Sharma to steady the innings. The innings slowly gained momentum, as both Sharma and Tare maneuvered the ball into the gaps. Their 72-run partnership came to an end after Sharma was dismissed for 41 off 32.
It was a big moment in the match, as big-man Kieron Pollard strolled to the wicket. An air of expectancy hung over the crowd who were witnessing the match. Pollard watchfully played his first delivery and then went for the second one straight over the bowler’s head for a boundary. It was a shot that seemed to suggest that the match would be over very quickly. However, wickets fell in a heap, as Tare and Pollard were both sent back to the hut for 37 & 25, respectively. The score was 129-4, with 52 more runs needed in 6 overs.
The responsibility to chase down the runs was now on R Satish’s shoulders along with Blizzard (who was allowed to come in for the second time, as per the rules of the practice match). Towards the end, it was their sparking partnership which stole the match in their favor. Satish hammered 26 off 15, while Blizzard blasted 29 in 15 to round up the match.
http://www.mumbaiindians.com/NewsDet...QiVL4VXtc6I%3d
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vPZaI20hSE
Guys check this out. This ad is cheesy but its cool :lol:
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It may be a Delhi crowd, but they are chanting the name of the opposition captain. "Sachin, Sachin" is the familiar cry.
Dilli batting. Symonds is out with a niggle.
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Match oru ball kooda paakala. Sema thookam. :oops:
For highlights go here http://www.criconline.tv/delhi-dared...ians-ipl-2011/
Thanks sourav, You must be pretty happy about Malinga. 8-).
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Malinga continues to grow in stature
Lasith Malinga has carved a niche for himself in world cricket for some time now and he continues to grow in stature by the dint of his extraordinary showing with the ball.
The Sri Lankan bowler, as famous for his locks as his unique slingshot action, swiftly overcame the disappointment of his country's loss to India in the World Cup final a week ago and produced a dazzling performance for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter against Delhi Daredevils at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Sunday.
Malinga, donning the Mumbai Indians' blue that strikingly resemble the Lankan colours, looked like continuing with his fine performance in the World Cup.
His figures of five for 13, the third best in IPL history, spoke volumes about his effectiveness.
Malinga's dominance was spell-binding. Be it his toe-crushing yorkers or sharp low full tosses which beat the batsmen with the pace or the well-concealed slower ones, the 27-year-old executed them with authority.
By ruthlessly castling the first four of his five victims, he not only sniffed life out of the Delhi batting line-up but also left the home team a demoralised lot.
“I always practise my yorkers as it is a wicket-taking ball,” said Malinga.
“I never mind what the wicket is like, I never mind who the batsman is. I think of what I have to do,” said the supremely confident pacer.
Accuracy has been the high point of Malinga's career. It is the sole reason behind Malinga's emergence as a potent weapon in the Twenty20 format over the years.
It also explains another part of his effort which often goes unnoticed — keeping the batsmen quiet (like bowling a maiden to Sehwag on Sunday).
“Viru is a good batsman. But I think I can do that and I try my best. I always try to bowl a good line and length,” he said.
Malinga's formula to handle reputed batsmen is simple. “They have some ability which they can do. I try to do my best,” he said.
Keywords: Lasith Malinga, IPL 2011
http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricke...cle1685427.ece
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4 darn yorkers Slinga + a maiden.
Thalai 2 direct hits of which 1 caused shewag run out.
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sehwag told he played a maiden after 10 yrs... dunno its just in limited overs or incl. tests.