Mumbai Indians’ Cricket director Zaheer Khan admitted on Friday that the five-time champions are slow starters, but said it is important to keep the side’s mood optimistic in a long tournament like the IPL. As has been the case in the past, MI had a disappointing start to the season, with Delhi Capitals losing four wickets in their opener on March 27. “There’s been a lot of constructive conversations about the options we can take. You know the first game is always a tough one and you know traditionally how we did in the first game of the tournament. So most of the time we were slow starters.” , Zaheer said ahead of their game against Rajasthan Royals at DY Patil stadium on Saturday. “It’s a long tournament, so you have to keep the mood right. Early days, very early days I’d say, so that’s the way the whole camp looks at it. The intensity, the preparation, the way everyone is doing their business is fantastic . We are looking for that first win.”
Zaheer also confirmed that their top batsman Suryakumar Yadav will be available for roster against RR following his recovery from a finger injury.
“…as I said before, he’s practicing so that’s something we’re all eagerly looking forward to and in terms of his availability for the next match, yes he is (available),” he said.
Yadav suffered a hair break while fielding in the third and final T20I against the West Indies in Kolkata in February and was recovering at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. He missed MI’s opening game against DC.
There was another injury for MI in their first match when Ishan Kishan was hit on the toe by a Shardul Thakur yorker and Aryan Juyal held wickets in place.
But Zaheer said Kishan is suitable for the match against RR.
“He (Kishan) is absolutely fine. We took the necessary measures. He practiced regularly and we had a break, so that helped him too.” MI failed to defend 177 against DC, but the former Indian pacer isn’t too concerned about the team’s bowling performance.
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“I’m happy with the way the plans are working, the way everyone is looking at this year. You will definitely see the change in the games to come.
“It was good learning for us. You saw that the CCI wicket is not an easy wicket for bowlers. You also saw in yesterday’s match that there were 200 runs chasing. So it was not an easy day for the bowlers, but in terms of planning and preparation, they are right on the money,” added Zaheer.
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