IPL 2021: Our bowlers can control any situation - MI coach Mahela Jayawardene

Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

One of the reasons that make Mumbai Indians the most successful team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is their emphasis on having a strong bowling unit.
In cricket's bang-bang version, MI have not just relied on having versatile batsmen, but also employed some formidable bowlers in their ranks and that has been their key to winning five IPL titles.

Barring the IPL-14 opener at Chennai, where Royal Challengers Bangalore successfully chased down MI's 152, the next five matches have been won by the team batting first. On the slow and sluggish Chepauk track, MI have successfully defended totals against Kolkata Knight Riders (152) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (150-5).

‘Bowlers win championships'

And that has been possible due to their all-round bowling attack, according to MI coach Mahela Jayawardene. "The bowling unit is something we are very focused on. Like I've always said, bowlers win championships. We have worked very hard over the years to create that set up because we need to have attacking options for all conditions and to be able to execute our game plans in different situations," Jayawardene told reporters in a virtual press conference on the eve of their clash against Delhi Capitals in what could be a repeat of the last IPL final.

MI spinners Rahul Chahar (left) and Krunal Pandya celebrate a Sunrisers wicket last Saturday. Pic/BCCI; IPL

"We know our batting unit is very capable of doing special things and our bowling unit can complement that. It's always going to be difficult for any opposition to be comfortable around us, so that's something we try to create. It's a tough competition with very little margin for error. You have to bit different from the others to be able to control any situation," the former Sri Lankan captain added.

Having Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah for the death overs has most opposition teams trying to finish games early, and in the bargain, losing wickets.

"They are experienced bowlers. It's all about execution. They are not attacking the stumps all the time.

They are bowling in different angles and directions as well to create opportunities to take wickets. You need to have that skillset and mindset to do different things," said Jayawardene.

‘Can't control the toss'

By now it's a given that the team winning the toss at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium will opt to bat. So, what does a coach tell his team if they have to chase? "If we have to chase, we just know that this is the batting line up that has to do it. It's not just about Chennai. It's the same at Wankhede as well.

"As a group, we have that confidence that nothing is impossible because we can't control the toss, but we can control the mindset," the MI coach concluded.