Rohit Sharma: Champions League chase inspired us

Sudhir Gupta 09:47 26/05/2014
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  • Man of the match: Corey Anderson.

    Mumbai Indians entry into the Indian Premier League playoffs has been like the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes.

    Down in the dumps after the UAE leg where they lost all five matches and languishing at the bottom of the eight-team table, Mumbai made a dramatic turnaround when the league returned to India by winning seven out of the remaining nine to bag a top four slot.

    They began by winning back-to-back games at ‘fortress Wankhede’, where they had not lost a game in two years.

    Though they lost the next match against Chennai Super Kings, which ended their 10-match winning streak at home, Mumbai never lost hope and continued to march on.

    It culminated in a dramatic victory against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede which meant they had won four out of the five games played at their favourite venue this season.

    Captain Rohit Sharma was still coming to terms with Mumbai’s incredible victory, minutes after Aditya Tare had hit the winning six .

    He said: “It will take a little while to get my hearbeat down. Nothing is impossible. Such a performance just doesn't come every day. This victory is for the people of Mumbai.

    “It was a fantastic victory. Anderson was unbelievable and Rayudu played a little cameo there and hats off to Tare.”

    Mumbai had been in a similar situation during the Champions League last year when they had to score 150 in 14.2 overs against Perth Scorchers to knock out Otago Volts. They attained it in 13.2 overs and eventually went on to win the title.

    Sharma also revealed that Mumbai were inspired from that victory to go for the the improbable chase last night.

    “We knew whatever target we had in front of us, we had to go for it and chase it,” he said. “There was no pressure on us and we knew we had hit our stride quickly.

    “We were in a similar situation in the Champions League, so we had the belief. And only brighter things are yet to come”

    Man of the match Corey Anderson said his efforts were dedicated to Mumbai’s loyal fans who egged them all along from the first game.

    He said: “I’m glad I could do something to bring them to their feet. The Mumbai crowd are unbelievable. Now I do feel at home here.”

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