'We Were Always In Contention': Jayawardene Backs MI Ahead of Crucial DC Showdown

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Last Updated:May 20, 2025, 22:17 IST

MI caput manager Jayawardene says his squad earned the close to determine its playoff destiny vs Delhi Capitals.

Mumbai Indians IPL 2025. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)

Mumbai Indians were “always successful contention" of making the IPL playoffs aft their six-match winning tally earlier successful the play and the squad deserves to beryllium successful a presumption to determine its ain fate, said caput manager Mahela Jayawardene connected Tuesday.

The five-time IPL winners volition request a triumph against Delhi Capitals present connected Wednesday to publication the 4th and last spot successful the playoffs, with Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings being the different three.

However, a nonaccomplishment volition mean MI volition person to beryllium connected the result of the contention betwixt DC and PBKS connected May 24.

“We were ever successful contention for playoffs aft we had that run. For us, it’s bully to commencement the tourney (again) and play cricket, the guys person been waiting for this, grooming has been beauteous bully and conscionable instrumentality 1 crippled astatine a time," Jayawardene told the media during MI’s training.

“It’s successful our control, it’s a large presumption to beryllium here. The connection from maine for the boys was to marque definite that we spell done our routines, our processes, the mode we train, the mode we plan, and the mode we’ve gone astir this tournament."

“It’s amended to person it successful our power than anyone else’s and ticker that situation, truthful we’ve played bully cricket to merit to beryllium successful that situation, and we’ll spell retired and effort and play our champion crippled of cricket tomorrow," helium added.

With further clip of 1 hr being added to each matches from Tuesday to the playing conditions, Jayawardene said successful lawsuit of superior rainfall it inactive mightiness not help.

“Obviously the upwind has been threatening astir of the games and it’s a determination that they’ve collectively taken. If it helps, it helps, but if you person superior rain, I don’t cognize whether the other hours are going to help," helium said.

“But arsenic agelong arsenic we tin get a crippled with the extension… everyone wants to play a crippled of cricket alternatively than not play," Jayawardene added.

Jayawardene did not talk overmuch connected the information that England and South Africa players are acceptable to permission the IPL earlier the playoffs begin.

“The aforesaid is going to hap for astir of those teams which person qualified already. They’re going to beryllium successful the aforesaid concern truthful I haven’t thought that acold ahead," helium said.

“We’ve evidently named the 3 guys that we’re looking astatine to bring. Two of them (Richard Gleeson and Charith Asalanka) are already here. I deliberation Jonny (Bairstow) volition get time (Wednesday)," helium added.

With MI facing a must-win situation, Jayawardene likened it to what they faced earlier successful the competition.

“We were successful that concern erstwhile we were 4-1 aft 5 matches. For us, each crippled was a must-win from that concern (and) the boys reacted beauteous well," helium said.

“(Even) the past crippled (against GT), we gave ourselves a large opportunity. We fought truly good aft the mistakes we’ve done, truthful cricket-wise, I’m not worried. The marque of cricket that we’re playing, reacting to situations," helium added.

Meanwhile, erstwhile India pacer and Delhi Capitals’ bowling manager Munaf Patel said his broadside volition miss Mitchell Starc successful this contest.

“It volition substance due to the fact that helium is our main accelerated bowler who bowls astatine 145 kmph, swings the shot and that excessively astatine the Wankhede wicket, wherever some plaything and bounce is available," helium said.

“It matters 100 per cent, but erstwhile determination is nary option, you person to deliberation of different alternatives, you cannot get stuck reasoning ‘oh helium is not determination now, what volition happen?’. You person to determination up with immoderate (players) you person and guarantee they perform," helium added.

Patel said KL Rahul, who is nearing 500-run people successful this IPL and is coming into this crippled aft an unbeaten century, suggested helium would power to the opening slot to assistance the team’s cause.

“He is batting extraordinarily, helium has scored runs successful each positions. He puts his manus up whenever the squad is successful need," Patel said.

“He lone suggested that helium would unfastened the innings due to the fact that the opening brace wasn’t settling down and went connected to marque a hundred," helium added.

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News cricket 'We Were Always In Contention': Jayawardene Backs MI Ahead of Crucial DC Showdown