IPL 8 Final, MI vs CSK: Don’t want hard work to go in vain, says Rohit Sharma
Kolkata: Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma on Saturday urged his teammates to put up one last effort against Chennai Super Kings in the final, saying all their hard work would go in vain if they failed to win the Indian Premier League at the Edens Gardens on Sunday. Mumbai Indians had an ominous start to their season eight campaign losing four matches on the trot but they turned the tables in style winning seven of their last eight matches to finish second in the league round.
Terming their passage into the final as the biggest thing, Sharma said: “At the end of the day, you wait for this all important day to win the Cup. No matter what we have done in the past if you don’t win the final all your hard work will go in vain. We don’t want that. We completely agree we didn’t start well but we always believed there’s character in the team.”
“We’re lucky that we’re in this position and it’s because of all the hard work we have put in over a month and a half. We have all the potential, it was a matter of putting it together and translate it into wins.“As a captain it’s important for me to say it’s one last effort we need. We are really determined to change the table. I’m pretty sure the boys are experienced enough to know the importance of the match,” Sharma said.
Having got a recall into the Test squad, veteran offspinner Harbhajan Singh may be looking forward to his favourite ground Eden but Sharma urged to live in the present.“I don’t think there’s too much about this mental edge. It’s important what you do on that particular day. All his good performances will be there back of his mind, confidence will be there.“It’s important for him to stay in present and not to carry too much of baggage of behind. I’m sure he wants to do well here, he’s up for it and ready to go.”
Second placed Mumbai Indians beat the same team in the first qualifier to directly enter the final while the MS Dhoni-led side had to win the qualifier two against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday. “It’s always very good to get breaks especially after the kind of cricket we’ve been playing over four-five months. It’s important to get the freshness back,” he said.
