‘Delivering under pressure key to success’

Mumbai Indians have been one of the in-form sides of the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) and bowling coach Shane Bond believes it is due to their ability to perform under pressure.

“We have done well in pressure situations this year and that has been one of the big factors behind our success. Chasing always comes with extra pressure and we have dealt with it brilliantly.”

Mumbai had a disappointing start when they lost to Rising Pune Supergiant, but since then have completed four consecutive run chases and are second on the points table.

Batting has been the strong point this season, but Bond said that it would be unwise to overlook the bowlers’ contribution.

“I think our bowlers have done a wonderful job in this tournament. We have six specialist bowlers and the Pandya brothers --- Krunal and Hardik --- add quality to our attack.”

On the other hand, Kings XI Punjab faced defeat in their last three matches and are fifth with four points. But, Bond said this was a lean patch for the home side and Mumbai would not be taking them lightly during their encounter on Thursday.

“We try to treat all the teams in this competition equally. We cannot let our guard down just because they (Kings XI) lost some matches. The result will depend on who performs well on a specific day.”

The pitch at the Holkar Stadium has provided good movement for fast bowlers and Bond believes the trend will continue.

“The wicket looks quite good and the grass covering will make our fast bowlers very happy. The only thing we have to get accustomed to is the bounce. It is more than what we are used to at the Wankhede and the batsmen need to watch out for that.”