Chennai: Robin Singh believed it was collective effort that landed Mumbai Indians its third IPL title.
Talking to The Hindu here on Wednesday, the Mumbai Indians assistant coach emphasised team-spirit.
“If you take batting, we did not depend on one or two individuals, but different people in the top seven put their hand up in different situations and times,” the former India all-rounder said.
Dwelling on the dramatic final, Robin pointed out: “The pitch was sluggish, the outfield was slow, and the boundaries on the sides were big. We knew we could defend 129.”
He noted, “once Pune were 58 for one after 10 overs, we were in the match. This was not an easy wicket to score quick runs.”
Robin added: “As Pune needed 47 runs off the last five overs, I thought we could nail the game. We had bowlers like Bumrah, Malinga and Johnson bowling those overs.”
As the tense game hurtled to a nail-biting conclusion, Robin marvelled at Ambati Rayudu’s catch at the extra-cover fence to dismiss a well-set Steve Smith.
He said, “the ball was really travelling, it was over Rayudu’s left shoulder. Rayudu later told me that he could not see the ball in the last moments because of the lights. He held on under tremendous pressure. It was a sensational catch and not many are talking about it.”
Robin was delighted at Bumrah’s progress. “He has a difficult action to pick, can bowl at 140kmph, has a very good slower delivery, and can bowl yorkers at will. Bumrah is among the best at the death, if not the very best.”
He appreciated Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. “His captaincy has evolved, he is now communicating a lot with the boys, interacts with the bowlers on the field. He made some telling changes.”
New coach Mahela Jayawardene also delivered for Mumbai Indians. “He is from the sub-continent, understands the conditions, is a current player himself so comprehends the dynamics of the modern game, and is easy to get along with.”
Robin singled out Kieron Pollard and Parthiv Patel and called them a part of Mumbai Indians’ core team who always came out with important suggestions on and off the field.
He was pleased with the development of the Pandya brothers, Krunal and Hardik. “Krunal has a very good temperament and when you combine that with his all-round talent, you get a very good cricketer. And Hardik, who can bowl at 140kmph, has become a lot more consistent.”
The side did not shy away from difficult decisions said Robin. “Picking leg-spinner Karn Sharma at the expense of the experienced Harbhajan was a tough one but we played Karn against teams with more right-handers in top six and he justified his selection.”
Given his shrewd cricketing mind and the ability to read situations, Robin’s inputs were valuable too in Mumbai Indians’ triumphant campaign.
