'CSK win was morale boosting'

Mumbai Indians made a torrid start to their title defence but just when the trophy started to slip away from their grasp, they posted a morale-boosting win over an in-form Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.

Suryakumar Yadav, the leading run-getter for Mumbai Indians so far with 274 runs, said the team is looking at using the eight-wicket triumph — their second win in 7 games — as a catalyst for the second half of the tournament. “Considering the start we had, it’s a very important win for us,” said Suryakumar at the pre-match press conference here on Monday.

“To beat the best team in the tournament while coming into the second half of the tournament, it’s important we take the momentum forward. We have already forgotten about the loses (we suffered early on in the tournament). It’s good that we are coming here with a win and we have a lot to achieve in the tournament later.”

Suryakumar said, despite some close defeats, MI never sulked but believed they could turn it around. “I think we kept things pretty simple instead of complicating it. This is a format in which we all go out there and express ourselves. The team that plays well wins the game. But the talks were all positive because the tournament was not over. We took it in our stride rather than sulking. I think we played our ‘A’ game in the last game and we are looking at taking the momentum from here. We won’t look back.”

Mumbai Indians take on a Royal Challengers Bangalore side low on confidence and against whom they boast of a superb record. MI have beaten RCB on 14 out of the 22 occasions they’ve met in IPL and also have won the last five clashes between the two sides. Despite RCB being in a vulnerable state, Suryakumar felt past results count for little. “It’s all history now. Most important thing now will be what we do on the game day, how we start. Even they have lost a few games but that is history as well. The team which we play tomorrow will be completely different on the field and it will be a great game. We will be raring to go. And those two points will be crucial for us as well.”