Rohit Sharma’s 81(54) in the Eliminator earned him the Player of the Match in the match against Gujarat Titans, and his temperament innings was lauded by his coach Mahela Jayawardena, revealing why he’s known as the Big-Match player.
Rohit Sharma’s Gritty 81 Guides MI to Massive Total in Eliminator
Rohit Sharma, who had a few lucky instances last night against the Gujarat Titans, made every moment count. The former Mumbai Indians skipper played a sensible knock of 81(54). This knock was a perfect blend of a T20 innings. At first, he had a shaky start and was dropped a few times by the GT fielders.
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He paved the way for Jonny Bairstow, allowing him to give the quick start, while Rohit held his crease. Once he was well settled, he took on GT's best bowlers, Sai Kishore and Rashid Khan, got his 4th fifty of the season, and his gritty knock led MI to finish with 228/4 in 20 overs.
Also Read: Hardik Pandya Hails Jasprit Bumrah’s Heroics in Eliminator Thriller
Rohit Sharma, when asked about his batting effort and luck, said he counts every bit of luck coming his way, and his focus is on how to do the job.
“I have only got four fifties. Would have loved to score more fifties. Good day for us as a team. I do understand the importance of playing this Eliminator and going through this and taking the next step forward. Proud of a complete team effort. When I play the game, I try to do my best, keeping everything aside. Making sure I can do the job for the team. I had to make the most of the luck.”
Jayawardena Praises Rohit’s Experience and Game Awareness in Eliminator
Mahela Jayawardena, who spoke during the post-match presentation, explained why Rohit Sharma was his best player. He appreciated Rohit’s temperament in his 81(54), which was unlike his typical innings of going after bowlers from the first ball.
“RO batted brilliantly. I think he took his time a little bit, letting Jonny take control initially. And then, when he knew it was his time, he got into a brilliant tempo. The pressure that he put on Sai [Kishore] and Rashid [Khan] in that situation was brilliant,” Jayawardena said after the match. “In big games, he does have a different gear that he plays. That's what experience does, and you cannot replace that,” he added.
Later, Mahela Jayawardena spoke highly of his team’s winning culture and how they plan and execute well on the spot, especially their plan to shift to bowling yorkers when slower balls were sticking to the surface.
“We couldn't get our grip. Planning-wise, we changed our plans to bowl yorkers as much as we could because the length balls were skidding through. The variations were not happening. I think it was a tough last 10 overs for us, but the experienced heads held together and we executed brilliantly,” said Mahela.
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Mumbai Indians’ successful campaign continues as they face Punjab Kings next in Qualifier 2, which is happening on 31/05/2025 and scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Stay tuned for the IPL 2025 updates.
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