Mumbai Indians veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla admitted they didn’t get the required momentum right from the beginning of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024. The five-time champions have managed only four wins in the 13 matches they have played in IPL 2024 and earlier became the first team to be knocked out of playoffs race.
The Hardik Pandya-led team suffered their ninth loss of the season against Kolkata Knight Riders as they were beaten by 18 runs at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Saturday. KKR posted a par score of 157 runs on the board after Pandya decided to bowl first and then MI kept losing wickets at regular intervals despite a brisk start given by Ishan Kishan.
Chawla, who got the big wicket of Venkatesh Iyer on the first ball of his spell, said in the post-match press conference, “We started well, but the Sunil Narine spell and the Varun Chakravarthy spell made the difference in today’s game. The way that KKR spinners are bowling and the way that they are batting, they can win the tournament. But in playoffs, what matters is how you turn up on that particular day. You just need four overs to change the game in the IPL. They have momentum, all of their players are doing well.”
Chawla returned with figures of 2-28 in the three overs he bowled. The UP spinner rued the fact that they haven’t been able to get the momentum on their side throughout the season.
“T20 cricket is about momentum but (sadly) we didn’t get that momentum right from the beginning. Sometimes we bowl well and then we end up not batting that well. Likewise, sometimes we bat well and the bowling is not. So it’s not just that we are lacking in one department. As a unit, we have failed in a few games. And we have to accept that fact as a team. Because at the end of the day, it’s a team game. These things do happen,” the leg-spinner added.
“We have a brilliant line-up. But sometimes just things didn’t fall into place. And as I always say in big games, there are small moments where you have to win as a team. But today sadly, we lost in those small moments,” the 35-year-old concluded.
Mumbai Indians will take on Lucknow Super Giants in their last league stage match of the season at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Friday.
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