'Rohit Bhaiya Asked Me...,' Akash Madhwal Credits His Skipper for Spell vs GT

image-lhkxmdgsMadhwal bagged 3/31 vs GT on Friday (AP Photo)

In a game that was heavily ruled by Suryakumar Yadav and Rashid Khan, Mumbai Indians' seamer Akash Madhwal found the limelight on him for a brief period, as he removed Gujarat's openers, sending Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill in the powerplay itself. Eventually, Madhwal ended the night with the figures of 3/31 after four overs at the Wankhede Stadium.

The right-arm seamer, who came in as an Impact Player in the second innings, indeed impacted the play, putting the Gujarat Express off the track in a chase of 219 runs. 

Madhwal used the skid off the deck to dismantle the GT openers, trapping Saha in front of the stumps, while Gill fell prey to a delivery that didn't bounce as expected. In the middle overs, the pacer got another prized wicket of David Miller (41 off 26 balls) before ending his night with a five-run 16th over.

While discussing his spell with the host broadcaster, the MI bowler credited his skipper Rohit Sharma for entrusting the young seamer. He further congratulated the centurion, Suryakumar Yadav, saying, 'he plays at a different level'.

"I have bowled in the past in the dew. So it wasn't much tough. We have practiced in these conditions and it helped me. Rohit (Sharma) bhaiya asked me to bowl hard lengths and it got me rewards. Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) bhaiya plays at a different level. I have bowled him in the nets but he bats incredibly," Madhwal stated.

The 29-year-old thanked the franchise for giving him the opportunity this season. He also said that his best is yet to come. 

"I was waiting for three years for this opportunity and I'm enjoying my time. These won't be my best figures in IPL as the best is yet to come."

Despite Surya's blistering ton and Madhwal's early burst, the game went down to the wire as Rashid Khan played one of the most entertaining knocks played by a lower order batter, slamming an unbeaten 79 off 32 balls.

Eventually, MI won against Gujarat by 27 runs as they bag the third spot on the table, with 14 points after 12 matches.