Lucky that we are getting to play in these hard times: Rohit Sharma

Mumbai Indians captain and India opener Rohit Sharma feels that he is lucky to be doing what he loves to do especially in these hard times.

“A lot of people are going through hard times, a lot of people are not able to work, not able to do what they like to. At least we are lucky that we are getting to do what we like,” Rohit said in a video, which was posted by his franchise on Twitter.

The players have to follow certain protocols as precautionary measures as they travel from one place to another. The MI skipper admitted that it is difficult to stay in bio-bubbles but said that making few adjustments isn’t a problem if the players are getting to do what they love.

“If we have to adjust, we have to adjust. And try and see how you can get the best out of, you know, this bubble life as well,” Sharma said.

Post the resumption of cricket after the forced Covid-19 break, India have been dominant especially in the longer format for quite some time. They first defeated Australia 2-1 in a four-match series in away fixtures and then thumped England in as many matches by 3-1 at home to march into the WTC final.

The Indian team faced some struggle after a number of senior players were injured during the Australia tour and had to return back home.

But the youngsters took on the onus on themselves and anchored the side to victory. Hailing the efforts from the youngsters, Sharma said that it was pleasing to see that the youngsters took on the responsibility.

“… The whole world has seen what we did there in Australia. The performance we put in as a team was so pleasing to see, especially by the younger players who have just come in to the squad. Taking up the responsibility, rising to the occasion, which was so great to see,” he said.

The right-handed batsman will now lead MI in the IPL 2021 which is slated to begin in Chennai on Friday. The defending champions MI will be up against Virat Kohli’s RCB in the opening encounter.

Discover more

Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul relishes Riley Meredith's 'proper pace' to intimidate batsmen

Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul is really looking forward to welcoming Riley Meredith into the team in the 14the edition of the Indian Premier League starting April 09. Speaking to Red Bull’s podcast, KL Rahul said that he is looking towards Meredith as someone who can intimidate opposition batting lineups on the basis of his ‘proper pace—an attribute he said the Kings have been missing over the last few seasons. "I'm really looking forward to watching Riley Meredith bowl. I watched him in a couple of games in New Zealand, he could bowl some proper pace, that's something that I've felt we were missing for three or four seasons that I've been with the Kings…someone with sheer pace, someone who can intimidate the opposition. So I'm looking forward to watching him bowl from behind the stumps,” KL Rahul said. Earlier today, speaking to news agency ANI, Meredith too spoke very highly of Rahul as a batsman who has become a ‘huge figure’ in world cricket. He too is looking forward to catching up with his IPL skipper after serving his quarantine period. Notably, Meredith was picked up by the Kings in the IPL 2021 auction for Rs 8 crore for his impressive pace bowling in the last edition of the Big Bash League.

IPL 2021 | Virat Kohli banking on confidence of young players to win elusive IPL trophy

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have been one of the most-talked-about sides in the Indian Premier League although they have not been able to win the trophy even once in 13 years. Virat Kohli’s troops improved their performances big time in the last edition of the league as they qualified for the playoffs. However, their performance dipped in the Eliminator against the Sunrisers Hyderabad and they faced an exit door. However, since the last edition, RCB’s young players such as Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, and Navdeep Saini have gain tremendous experience playing for India on the international stage. Now, on the eve of the tournament opener against the Mumbai Indians, Kohli is banking on their confidence in another pursuit of the trophy as he draws the lesson from his own experience of bringing his international experience to the fore in IPL. “Our youngsters have become more confident with more experience. Now opposition knows that these guys can make impact in any situation as well which is obviously a great sign for us. (What) I did as a youngster was bring in that confidence of international level at the IPL. Watching Washy, (Navdeep) Saini and Siraj coming onto their own and Yuzi has been around for a while, show their personalities, it will help us pull stronger as a team, and move in the right direction," Kohli said to RCB website. Virat Kohli will have to marshal his troops very well to stop the juggernaut of Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians who are coming on the back of a triumph last year.

IPL 2021 | Mahela Jayawardene reveals thought process behind Mumbai Indians bidding for Marco Jansen

The coach of the Mumbai Indians Mahela Jayawardene has said that the process of bidding for a 20-year-old Marco Jansen had begun way back in 2018 and that he was monitored before the franchise put its weight behind him in the auction earlier this year. Jansen is an uncapped left-arm fast bowler with the experience of 12 first-class matches, 13 List in addition and only four T20s. Mumbai Indians bought his services at the base price of Rs 20 lakh. Jayawardene credited the thought process of the talent scouting team that search for and bring the best talents available to the team. He said that people follow a process and they back players who have real talents. “We have monitored him for the last three years. Then he was a 17-18 year old. We kept monitoring him and picked him the same time he was picked for South Africa (Test squad for Pakistan in January). I don’t think there are secrets to scouting. It’s just pure hard work and finding the right people who have the ability to pick talent. You have to trust their instincts and their hard work needs to be acknowledged. It’s a process.,” Jayawardene said. “For me, it’s brilliant to have that input coming in, knowing that they are turning each and every stone to find this talent. We monitor them and when we decide we need to invest in them, we go ahead and do that.” Mumbai Indians are the defending champions of the IPL after they won the last edition defeating the Delhi Capitals in the final last year. The team has won five IPL trophies and the current captain Rohit Sharma has been the most successful captain in the history of the league with four trophies to his name. The Mumbai Indians will start the IPL 2021 campaign with the opening clash against the Royal Challengers Bangalore led by Virat Kohli.

In a first - DCCI office bearers to be part of IPL 2021 inaugural match in Chennai

The IPL 2021 is set to begin on Friday in Chennai when RCB lock horns with MI in the opening match. The Secretary of the BCCI has sent an invitation to the office bearers of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) to come and be part of the IPL opening match. The opening ceremony of the tournament will have representation from the differently abled governing council members. “Mr Jay Shah, the Secretary of the BCCI, has extended an invitation to the office bearers of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) to come and be part of the IPL Opening match to be held in Chennai on the 9th of April. This is for the first time the DCCI members will be part of any BCCI event,” a press release from DCCI said. Dr. Mahantesh, G.K President of DCCI, expressed his gratitude and thanked Jay Shah, “We are very thankful to Mr Jay Shah for inviting us to attend the opening ceremony of the biggest T20 tournament in the world. From the very beginning, he has been very encouraging and has been promoting differently abled cricket in the country.” Ravi Chauhan who is the Secretary of DCCI, has said that this is a mark of respect and appreciation for thousands of differently-abled cricket players of the country. “Though five members of DCCI will be attending the Opening Ceremony in Chennai, but in reality, thousands of cricketers of the PWD community shall feel proud. We are just the faces, but the invitation is actually to each and every differently abled cricketer and for this we will be always grateful to Mr Shah for keeping his promise of giving dignity and equality to our cricket.”