Published: May 17, 2017, 01:21 PM (IST)
Edited: May 17, 2017, 01:21 PM (IST)
Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) batsman Manoj Tiwary praised MS Dhoni for the latter’s knock which took the team home against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Qualifier 1 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017. On Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, Steven Smith’s RPS successfully defended a target of 163 as Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur took 3 wickets each. However, it was MS Dhoni’s 26-ball unbeaten 40 that accelerated Pune’s scoring rate earlier after a slow and shaky start. RPS lost two of their top-order batsmen, Rahul Tripathi and Steven Smith, within the first 2 overs with only 9 runs on the board; it was a joint effort from Ajinkya Rahane and Manoj Tiwary that helped the team stabilise the innings before Dhoni launched his onslaught. Full Cricket Scorecard: Mumbai Indians vs Rising Pune Supergiant, IPL 2017, Qualifier 1 at Mumbai
“The momentum shifted during the last two overs. We were struggling to get that until the 18th, 19th and 20th over where Mahi-bhai played some outstanding shots. It was not easy against Bumrah, but he showed why he is such a highly-talented player. He has so much of ability to hit the best bowlers in the IPL. Those sixes in the crucial overs helped us to put up a good total,” said Tiwary who also put on 73 runs with Dhoni for the fourth wicket in the post-match conference, reported BCCI.
Tiwary also revealed how inputs from Dhoni helped Smith with his captaincy: “He [Smith] is doing a good job, but the kind of results that we are getting it cannot be only credited to only one person. Each and every one has played their part whether it is on the field or off the field by giving suggestions to him as he is not from India. He does not completely know the Indian domestic players and other teams as well, so we share our ideas. Mahi-bhai has been supporting very well to him. It is evident on the field that he has been manoeuvring the field placements and keeping them in the right position while Smith is completely focused on changing the bowlers. He has too much on his plate and that way Mahi-bhai is guiding each and every player to stand in the right position.”
Tiwary, whose 58-run knock was elemental in RPS’ victory, also spoke about his own batting: “My role was like if couple of wickets fall in Powerplay, then I have to go. If a partnership builds then I had to come down because Ben Stokes was there. MS-bhai was there. So, mentally I was prepared. Before coming to the IPL, I had a plan to strike at a very high strike rate. But coming here, I was given this role.
“I have always planned myself that I will bat according to the situation. Luckily, everything is coming of well except a couple of bad scores prior to this game. I am happy with the way I have contributed. They have given me the confidence and it helps for a player like me who missed the last IPL due to injury.
“Our bowlers executed the plans very well. They lost a couple of wickets in the Powerplay and we never looked back from thereon.”
