Winning mindset matters in big games, says Jayawardene on MI team culture

The winning culture that Mumbai Indians have built over the years with their core group of players does help them perform in high-pressure situations, said head coach Mahela Jayawardene after their tight win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL Eliminator here.
Having won five titles, the storied franchise is one step away from reaching another IPL final.
With Sai Sudharsan looking unstoppable in the middle, Titans were on course to chase down 229 in the knock-out game on Friday but individual brilliance from the likes of Jasprit Bumrah enabled Mumbai Indians to get over the line.
Like they usually do, Mumbai Indians were slow starters this season before lifting their game in the second half of the tournament.
Jaywardene gave his thoughts on what makes them tick on the big stage.
"Well, when you have a winning culture, it is easier to try and have that same thing going through. Even when you get a new group, we still have a very experienced co-group within our ranks.
"So, the conversations that we have, planning and everything is about, how can we get better, how can we push through," he said referring to the core including Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Bumrah, who have been part of the team's triumphant campaigns over the years.
The seniors know all about winning and they try to inculcate the same spirit in the youngsters who join the squad.
"That winning mentality itself comes through from those senior players and having that experience, guys who have won trophies does help and my job is to try and cultivate that for the new guys who are coming into the spot.
"After the big auction, we had quite a few new faces, but I think telling them about the history of Mumbai and how we go, how we operate and have that attitude that we will never die from a situation, we will always fight through. So, I think that is shown today," said the Sri Lankan great.
Bumrah massive asset for us, Rohit showed he is made for big stage While Bumrah got them back in the match by castling Washington Sundar with a yorker, Rohit rode his luck early to make 81 off 50 balls after being dropped twice in the powerplay.
On the lead pacer, who returned from a long injury lay-off in the middle of the season, Mahela said: Tthere are definitely no concerns when he comes back because the reputation itself carries through and he was quite confident.
"He had bowled few sessions, he was nailing those yorkers and all that. He is a massive asset for us, the experience that he carries through to the team and the situation that he has been bowling for us as well.
"It is great to have him around the group, the experience that he brings, talking to Ashwini (left-arm pacer) in that last over (of the match)." Mahela said Rohit's hand at the top of the order was equally important.
"Rohit was brilliant. He let Johnny take control initially and then when he knew it was his time and the bowler then he picked and he got into a brilliant tempo.
"The pressure that he put on the two spinners, especially Sai and Rashid in that situation was absolutely brilliant and that is what Rohit does. Big games he does have a different gear that he plays. That is what experience does and he cannot replace that." He also said rookie pacer Ashwani Kumar is a fine talent and needs to be groomed properly by the franchise.
Didn't expect heavy dew The heavy dew in the second half of the game aided Sudharsan and Washington who were collecting boundaries at will in the run chase. Mahela said they forced to change their plans considering the unexpected dew.
"I didn't anticipate dew because I was here practising and knew yesterday's game as well (Qualifier 1), there wasn't much dew.
"I looked at the wicket, we had a chat, we felt that against this opposition that batting first is the right call. So, we played tactically, brilliantly, the way we batted, the tempo was great and we put runs on the board and took that early wicket of Shubman as well, which was a massive one.
"But halfway stage, I saw the dew coming in...So, we had to make a call, there was a, like planning wise, we were thinking, long boundaries, the way we gripped, the leg spinner might be an option for us, but we then took that out and then bowl Ashwini.
"Changed our plans to bowl yorkers, as much as we can, because the balls were skidding through." Mahela praises Sudharsan Mahela has been left impressed with the way Sudharsan batted this season. He backed the left-hander to do well on his maiden Test tour of England.
"Well, I have enjoyed his batting. I have to be honest, he is a good lefty, good cricketing shots, has a good head on his shoulder as well.
"So, I am sure he will do well. It will be a challenge in England, like we have all done that in the past, but I think he will find a way to do what he needs to do," Mahela added.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Mint

an hour ago

• Mint

Root overtakes Jayasuriya to become 9th highest international cricket run-getter

Leeds [UK], June 22 (ANI): England batter Joe Root overtook Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya to become the ninth-highest run-getter in international cricket on Saturday. Root achieved this upward movement in the charts during his side's first Test match against India at Leeds. During his innings, he scored 28 in 58 balls, with two fours. He ultimately fell to Jasprit Bumrah for the 10th time in 25 innings, averaging 29 against him. In 366 international matches, Root has scored 21,053 runs in 479 innings at an average of 49.30, with 54 centuries and 112 fifties; his best score is 262. He is England's top run-getter of all time across all formats, including Tests and ODIs. On the other hand, Jayasuriya, the SL legend, scored 21,032 runs in 651 innings at an average of 34.14, with 42 centuries and 103 fifties. His best score is 340. The top run-getter in international cricket is Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian icon. He has scored 34,357 runs in 664 matches in 782 innings at an average of 48.52, with 100 centuries and 164 fifties. His best score is 248*. In Test cricket, Root has scored 13,034 runs in 154 matches and 280 innings at an average of 50.71, with 36 centuries and 65 fifties. His best score is 262. In ODIs, he has made 7,126 runs at an average of 49.14 in 180 matches and 169 innings, with 18 centuries and 42 fifties. In 32 T20Is and 30 innings, he has scored 893 runs at an average of 35.72, with a strike rate of 126.30 and five half-centuries. His best score is 90*. Coming to the match, England ended day two on 209/3, with Ollie Pope (100*) and Harry Brook (0*) unbeaten. A half-century from Ben Duckett (62 in 94 balls, with nine fours) and his century partnership with Pope gave England a boost after the early dismissal of Zak Crawley. Jasprit Bumrah (three wickets) made problems for England with timely strikes but barely found support from other bowlers. England trails by 262 runs. England, on day one, won the toss and opted to bowl first. Centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101 in 159 balls, with 16 fours), skipper Shubman Gill (147 in 227 balls, with 19 fours and a six) and Rishabh Pant (134 in 178 balls, with 12 fours and six sixes) took India to 471. 430/4 at one point, skipper Ben Stokes (4/66) and Josh Tongue (4/86) caused a collapse. (ANI)

India Gazette

an hour ago

• India Gazette

"He worked on certain things, credit goes to him...": Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak hails Shubman Gill

Leeds [UK], June 22 (ANI): Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak praised India test skipper Shubman Gill after his majestic hundred on captaincy debut against England on Saturday, in the first of five test match series at Headingley, Leeds. He said Gill had made specific changes in his batting, credited him with analysing what he needed to do, and felt he did really well. Sitanshu Kotak, while speaking in the post-match press conference, said, 'I think, after the Australia series, he [Shubman Gill] has thought of certain things, which he has implemented, after Australia, Champions Trophy, and then we had IPL. He worked on certain things, and as soon as I saw him in the nets, I spoke to him about the changes you made, and he said yes. So a lot of credit goes to him for analysing what he needs to do, and I think he did really well.' India were bowled out for 471 in 113 overs in the first innings, with captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal all crossing the century milestone. Gill scored his century in 140 balls, making him the fifth Indian to have scored a century in his first Test as captain. He was dismissed on 147, trying to hit a six and complete his 150, but he was caught on square leg off Shoaib Bashir. Kotak also praised Pant for his brilliance in the middle. He felt the wicketkeeper/batter makes his decision when he bats and he plays aggressive shots, which does not mean that he can't play defensive cricket. 'Rishabh Pant, I think, is someone who makes his own plans, makes his decision when he bats, so this inning was a little different than you would see him normally, but that is his plan, the way he wanted to approach it, and when he wanted to attack, he did. So, because he plays aggressively, it does not mean that he can't play defensively,' he added. Pant was eventually dismissed on the second ball of the 108th over for 134 by Josh Tongue. India squandered the advantage in the first session on Day 2 as the side lost four wickets in the last half an hour. Shubman Gill (147), Karun Nair (0), Rishabh Pant (134) and Shardul Thakur (1) all lost their wickets. A century by Ollie Pope and his partnership with Ben Duckett helped England put up a strong reply against India in their first innings, ending the final session of day two of the first Test on a high. England earlier made a strong comeback, dismissing India for 471 after the visitors had ended the day yesterday on 359 for three and looked poised for a huge score. At the end of the second day's play, England were 209/3, with Pope (100*) and Harry Brook (0*) unbeaten. They trail by 262 runs. Brief Scores: England: 209/3 (Ollie Pope 100*, Ben Duckett 62, Jasprit Bumrah 3/48) trail India (Shubman Gill 147, Rishabh Pant 134, Ben Stokes 4/66). (ANI)

India Gazette

an hour ago

• India Gazette

Root overtakes Jayasuriya to become 9th highest international cricket run-getter

Leeds [UK], June 22 (ANI): England batter Joe Root overtook Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya to become the ninth-highest run-getter in international cricket on Saturday. Root achieved this upward movement in the charts during his side's first Test match against India at Leeds. During his innings, he scored 28 in 58 balls, with two fours. He ultimately fell to Jasprit Bumrah for the 10th time in 25 innings, averaging 29 against him. In 366 international matches, Root has scored 21,053 runs in 479 innings at an average of 49.30, with 54 centuries and 112 fifties; his best score is 262. He is England's top run-getter of all time across all formats, including Tests and ODIs. On the other hand, Jayasuriya, the SL legend, scored 21,032 runs in 651 innings at an average of 34.14, with 42 centuries and 103 fifties. His best score is 340. The top run-getter in international cricket is Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian icon. He has scored 34,357 runs in 664 matches in 782 innings at an average of 48.52, with 100 centuries and 164 fifties. His best score is 248*. In Test cricket, Root has scored 13,034 runs in 154 matches and 280 innings at an average of 50.71, with 36 centuries and 65 fifties. His best score is 262. In ODIs, he has made 7,126 runs at an average of 49.14 in 180 matches and 169 innings, with 18 centuries and 42 fifties. In 32 T20Is and 30 innings, he has scored 893 runs at an average of 35.72, with a strike rate of 126.30 and five half-centuries. His best score is 90*. Coming to the match, England ended day two on 209/3, with Ollie Pope (100*) and Harry Brook (0*) unbeaten. A half-century from Ben Duckett (62 in 94 balls, with nine fours) and his century partnership with Pope gave England a boost after the early dismissal of Zak Crawley. Jasprit Bumrah (three wickets) made problems for England with timely strikes but barely found support from other bowlers. England trails by 262 runs. England, on day one, won the toss and opted to bowl first. Centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101 in 159 balls, with 16 fours), skipper Shubman Gill (147 in 227 balls, with 19 fours and a six) and Rishabh Pant (134 in 178 balls, with 12 fours and six sixes) took India to 471. 430/4 at one point, skipper Ben Stokes (4/66) and Josh Tongue (4/86) caused a collapse. (ANI)