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‘He knows his bowling really well and he understands the conditions really well, so it makes my job easier as a captain’
His own knock was crucial in Mumbai Indians chasing down a stiff 171-run target, but skipper Rohit Sharma chose to credit all-rounder Krunal Pandya for the Indian Premier League victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore, saying the youngster is proving to be a game-changer in every match.
Mumbai defeated Bangalore by six wickets on Wednesday night, with Krunal, the brother of India player Hardik Pandya, grabbing two wickets for 27 runs in his four overs.
"He (Krunal) has been impressive. Even in the first game he played here (Wankhede stadium) against Gujarat Lions, he did not get wickets but bowled four overs for just 20 runs and then he did it with the bat in Hyderabad, scored 49 off just 25-26 balls, and again getting those two big important wickets in the middle (A B de Villiers and Virat Kohli) was very crucial from the team's perspective," Rohit said.
"I think he has got something about him, he knows his bowling really well and he understands the conditions really well, so it makes my job easier as a captain as he sets his own field, which is I think very crucial. It shows that you have got lot of confidence into your bowling," he added.
RCB seemed set for a big score when Kohli (33) and de Villiers (29) were batting, but Krunal dismissed both of them in a single over and halted the momentum.
Rohit also stressed on the importance of having the right team combination, saying the team's theory of playing two overseas seamers was helpful.
"That theory (playing two overseas seamers) has worked for us over the years," he said, adding that since he has the luxury of having five bowlers, he can mix the attack well.
".. that is something which will keep going and as far as our batting is concerned; it looks more settled with (Ambati) Rayadu batting at three and myself batting at the top of the order. We wanted Pollard to get back in form as quickly as possible and today was a perfect day for him."
Pollard's blistering 19-ball 40 on Wednesday was instrumental in Mumbai Indians getting past Royal Challengers.
RCB spinner Iqbal Abdulla said Rohit's 44-ball knock, which included four hits to the fence and three over, it made all the difference.
"...it depended on the bowlers, but (Mumbai Indians) batted well, especially Rohit (Sharma), and later on Kieren Pollard, he batted well," he said.
On Kohli and De Villiers's dismissal in one over being the turning point, Abdulla said, "Yes, if your best batsman gets out -- who is making runs for your team -- then it definitely, in a small way, costs the team".