“We weren’t good enough, and that’s what we have to focus on. We had certain plans in mind, but…we failed to execute them as intended. These players are in great form. We understood the risk, especially when rain affected the match, granting them the freedom to attack.
“Our aim was to ensure the first four to five overs were pivotal for us. Unfortunately, we missed our lengths and lines, and they capitalized superbly,” said the former Sri Lankan batsman.
He noted that even a bowler of Bumrah’s quality found it challenging against the aggressive play of the two RR openers, who racked up an impressive 80 runs in the first five overs, with Jaiswal scoring an unbeaten 77 off 32 deliveries and Sooryavanshi 39 off 14.
“We were all aware of his (Sooryavanshi’s) immense talent based on his performance last year. We managed to contain him during the previous season. Each match presents a new challenge.
“Bumrah might have slightly misjudged his length, and Sooryavanshi was ready for it. It will be intriguing to see his development. But undoubtedly, he really put our bowlers under pressure,” Jayawardene added.
However, a significant portion of RR’s total stemmed from Jaiswal’s performance, and Jayawardene emphasized that it was he who truly dominated the match.
“Don’t overlook Jaiswal; he was pivotal… his batting was exceptional. He took charge in the first three overs, showcasing some excellent cricketing shots, and he anchored their innings.”
Jayawardene felt that despite their potential, his team failed to establish a match-winning partnership, as early wicket losses disrupted their flow.
“We simply needed a couple of partnerships. The loss of early wickets set us back significantly.
“At the end of the day, the difference was four sixes; that’s what it boiled down to for us, and we just could not achieve that rhythm, along with one or two batsmen not managing to score quick runs in that top order. We never believed it was out of our reach.”
He mentioned that the team would need to regroup, rethink strategies, and plan their next moves.
“We need to sit down and identify areas for improvement. We understand what needs to be done, but executing that with belief and confidence is essential. The team must come together, regroup, and diligently work on our requirements.”
MI’s next match will be against the strong Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium on April 12.
