IPL 2022: We need “desparation and hunger” to win, says Rohit Sharma

Mumbai Indians (MI) started their Indian Premier League (IPL) season with straight three losses. Skipper Rohit Sharma said that from now onwards the players need to have “separation and hunger” to win.

MI are currently in ninth place in the points table with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the top.

Mumbai have been a slow starter in the league stages as in history. Last year they almost miss the chance to qualify until the very last game.

“We seriously cannot be blaming individuals here. It’s all of us,” Rohit said to his team in a video Mumbai put out on Twitter after their last loss. “We win together, we lose together. That is as simple as that for me.

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“I think slight desperation is required from each one of us. That desperation is very, very, very important when we play, especially in this tournament. Because oppositions are different, they come up with different plans all the time. We just need to stay ahead of them. We just need to stay on top of them. And the only way we can do that is by having that slight hunger and that desperation on the field – with the bat, with the ball.”

MI have so far lost to KKR by five wickets, Rajhastan Royals by 23 runs and Delhi Capitals by five wickets.

Despite the losses, Mumbai have shown some good performance. Top-order batsman Ishan Kishan has produced ample runs, in the middle-order Tilak Varma. Lead spinner, M Ashwin, have also produced some good results.

However, some of the bowlers have shown poor performance. Daniel Sams has an economy rate of 12.63, Tymal Mills of 9.90 and Basil Thampi at 9.50.

Sharma lifted the team’s spirit by mentioning the good points, but it was also necessary to mention the points that lead to bad performance.

“So we are doing some good things. In all three games that we’ve played, we’ve done some really good things. It’s just that those little moments, and that indication, you know an individual has to understand, in that period of time when the game is happening.

“There will be an indication that ‘this is the over’. What we do in that over, those little, that we need to try and squeeze that, and get it towards our side. Get that momentum towards our side.

“They (Knight Riders) certainly took the victory from us. We need to do that against the opposition as well. We need to nail those crucial moments and then see what happens, after that.”

MI have so far played on grounds other than Wankhede Stadium, their home ground. And the next four matches are also in other venues.

“We don’t need to panic. Honestly, we talk about talent, potential and everything in this room – but until we bring that desperation and hunger on the ground, the opposition is not going to hand us wins just like that.

“There’s no point in putting our heads down at this point because it’s still early days. And I feel that, in these three games that we’ve played we’ve shown some character. It’s just that collectively, all 11 of us inside – whoever goes inside – need to come together.

“Let’s keep our heads up. I don’t think we need to look down and start worrying about things. Honestly, we don’t need to worry about things.

“We can talk about so much stuff off the field, but I think it’s in there, what we want to achieve as a group. Again, this is not the bowling group or batting group, this is all of us – all of us here. We need to come together, not one or two individuals. Everyone needs to come together. That is what I feel.”

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