MI lacking confidence: Rohit
Mumbai: Off to a poor start in the IPl with three defeats on the trot, former champions Mumbai Indians are a bit low in confidence, conceded team captain Rohit Sharma. “We have not been doing some things well. We are unable to cross one hurdle that we have to cross and something is lacking in batting or bowling,” said Sharma on the sidelines of the MI-Reliance Foundation's Education For All initiative for underprivileged children. Ricky Ponting, MI’s head coach, echoed the opinion. “As a group we are lacking a little bit in confidence at the moment. looking at the last couple of games we played some really good cricket. We have to make sure we do that for the entire 40 overs and not only for 25 or 30 overs as we have been doing,” said Ponting. However, Sharma exuded confidence by observing that last year too MI had bounced back after five straight defeats. "Our preparations are very good, but we are unable to execute our plans fully. Even last time we were in a similar situation and we came back well. We are next playing a home game against Chennai (Super Kings) (on April 17) which is an important game and we need to forget what has happened so far, take the positives and go forward," said Sharma.
We need to up our game: Pollard
Ahmedabad: Disappointed after Mumbai Indians’ third successive IPl loss, the team’s West Indian batsman Keiron Pollard said his side needs to improve several aspects of it gameplan. “I am surely disappointed. We didn’t have a very good start. I did score runs, so did Corey (Anderson). But, overall it was not good enough. We have to touch up lot of aspects with regard to batting and bowling,” Pollard said. To a query regarding Mumbai Indians’ strategy for the next match, Pollard said there would be some change in the coming games. “We did not have a very good start in this game. We need to change our strategy for the next as we will be playing against Chennai Super Kings, who have been very consistent in their performance,” he said. Rajasthan Royals won by seven wickets against Mumbai Indians despite explosive batting by Pollard (70) and Anderson (50).
Unwell Gambhir skips team travel
Kolkata: Captain Gautam Gambhir will not be travelling with the Kolkata Knight Riders squad to Pune as he has caught fever and a stomach bug. “Not travelling to Pune with @KKRiders today. Cramps, weakness and fever…bad timing. living on khichdee and curd-rice… (sic),” Gambhir tweeted on Wednesday. He has got still some time to recover as Knight Riders face Kings XI Punjab in Pune on Saturday. The left-hand batsman also took the opportunity to wish a happy new year to his Bengali followers. “Hi friends, down wid a stomach bug but am still a part of ur new year celebrations. Shubho Nobo Borsho to all of u.”
Injured Finch likely to miss IPl
New Delhi: Mumbai Indians batsman Aaron Finch is likely to miss the rest of the IPl after suffering a hamstring injury during the match against Rajasthan Royals. “looks like I’ll be out of the rest of @IPl at this stage! The scan showed a bit of damage, absolutely shattered!” Finch tweeted on Wednesday. Finch did not play further in the match at Ahmedabad on Tuesday after retiring hurt on 10. The Australia had scored 5 and 8 in the first two matches.