Well begun is half done, says Karn
Indians’ star of the show, Karn Sharma, attributed the brilliant start provided by the bowlers for the former champions’ comprehensive victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 2 of the IPL on Friday.
“The wicket was slow, it was not like Bangalore was before, but it was good for us as we bowled well from the start and got wickets in the middle, that’s more important,” the leg-spinner told a media conference after the sixwicket victory at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
“T20 is all about momentum. We started well in the first six overs and that’s how we won the game.” KKR were skittled out for 107 and MI reached 111/4 in 14.3 overs. KKR were reduced to 31/5 before Ishank Jaggi and Suryakumar Yadav put on a 56-run partnership. Karn Sharma said: “They (KKR) have a very good batting line-up. They’re not scoring that (many) runs but they have a very good batting line-up.”
Karn Sharma, who captured four wickets (4/16) after replacing Harbhajan Singh in the eleven and bagged the Man-ofthe-Match award, said MI’s solid record against KKR didn’t matter.
“You can’t say we had a mental advantage because we are playing good. Last game (Qualifier 1 against RPS) was not that good, but we’re playing very well and it’s T20 and you need momentum.” Karn Sharma hasn’t been a regular for Mumbai Indians this season but has delivered if and when required, picking up 13 wickets in eight matches.
“It’s good that I’ve just been working hard when I’m not playing, so the main focus is when I get a game I need to perform for the team, and that’s more important for me.” Pace bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, captured three for seven runs to leave Kolkata reeling. Although MI have lost all their four matches this season to RPS, their opponents on Sunday, Karn Sharma wasn’t concerned. “That was past, we’re fully prepared and we will win the final. That’s for sure.”
KKR spinner Piyush Chawla blamed his side’s shambolic batting.
“It was a slow wicket, not a regular Bangalore wicket, but getting out for 107 is not enough, we need to work hard on our batting,” Chawla said. “It (shot selection) completely depends on the batsman; if someone is good at something then they back themselves. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t.
“Once you are defending 107 runs then you try and get wickets at regular intervals.” KKR had dropped the struggling Yusuf Pathan for the first time but Chawla didn’t want to comment on it and left soon after the question was asked.