Karn warns MI not to be complacent
mumbai — Leg-spinner Karn Sharma on Monday night said Mumbai Indians should not take the remaining four round-robin games lightly and carry the momentum into the knockout stage of the Indian Premier League.
MI defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets to seal their spot in the IPL play-offs. “We have qualified (for the play-offs), but we can’t take these four matches lightly also, we need to take momentum to the knock out stage,” Sharma told reporters at the postmatch conference. In reply to RCB’s modest 162-8, Mumbai scored 165-5 with one ball to spare, courtesy skipper and man of the match Rohit Sharma’s well-measured innings of 56 not out in 37 balls, that included one six and six fours.
It was MI’s eighth win out of 10 games, and they have lost twice only to Rising Pune Supergiant, including the only defeat in their home venue — Wankhede Stadium.
The 29-year-old Meerut-born Sharma, who took one RCB wicket, feels leg-spinners have got more purchase from the tracks and hence they have been successful in the T20 League this season.
“Imran Tahir is number one bowler in T20 and I learnt a lot from him (while interacting with him when Pune played against Mumbai here). In T20, the leg spinners get (more) grip from the wickets, even if it is flat or otherwise,” said the UP player who had turned out in one Test without much success when India toured Australia a few years ago. Seasoned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh missed the game and Sharma said Singh had some problem in the left-foot. “Harbhajan had some problem on the left foot, he will be fine for the next match. Krunal (Pandya) is fine.” Pandya took two wickets in four overs but fell over the ball while chasing a delivery and left the field. He, however, came in to bat at no. 6 only to retire hurt at the 14th over after finding it difficult to run properly.