An on-song KKR proved hard to stop for MI in today’s game. KKR chased down 156 in 15.1 overs with seven wickets in hand, courtesy a 1/20 from Sunil Narine, a 74* (42) from Rahul Tripathi and a 53 (30) from youngster Venkatesh Iyer.

MI will have to get back to their drawing board and have lots of homework to do before they face RCB in the Sunday night encounter at Dubai next.

While Rohit Sharma and Quintok de Kock’s 78-run partnership was a stable one, the other batters failed to capitalise on it. Rohit, who addressed the media after the game, spoke about the importance of moving on and concentrating on crucial encounters ahead.

“We kept losing wickets at regular intervals”: Rohit Sharma

“Few areas went wrong. We started really well but didn't get enough towards the back end. I thought it was a good pitch, we failed to capitalize on the start we got and we didn't bowl well at the start. I don't want to look into it too much, things can happen and you have to move on.”

“After a good start we had to get small partnerships but we kept losing wickets at regular intervals, it is not easy for new batters to go in and start hitting the ball. It is something that happened in the last game as well and we will address it. The points table is always there at the back of the mind on where you stand, we are still in the middle of the table, so we have to get back and fight and hopefully get some wins on the trot.”

Shane Bond also addressed the media after the game in a press conference. Below are excerpts from the same:

How much of a concern is MI’s middle order’s form?

“That’s a fair comment, I think. I mean, if you look at our team, probably in general it is operating around 80%. The game tonight, the last time we played the first six overs, we controlled and got ourselves in a position to control the game. We can rightly say that the middle order never really kicked in and got going. So, we talk a lot about someone kicking through the backend of the innings.”

“So, our batting order can play around them, um, and we just haven't been able to do that. So, once again we found ourselves with a score that was sub par. But one thing we do know is that we’ve got a quality batting line-up. We’ve got a good surface out here, there's good surfaces through this tournament, so, hoping to turn it around pretty quickly cause we need to. We have to start winning some games.”

On Hardik’s niggle problem

“Hardik’s training well, like Rohit, like he trained today he's getting closer to playing. We’re obviously balancing the needs of our team with the needs of Team India as well. So one thing that this franchise does very well is look after its players. They are not only trying to win this competition but are eyeing the T20 World Cup that's following up. So, looking hopeful for Hardik to be back for the next match and as I said, he trained today, he trained pretty well.”

Who takes the initiative of balancing between MI and Team India’s needs?

“There’s no hard directive. The one thing you’ve got to do with players of your team, as a key duty, is to look after them. So, we’re obviously desperate to put them back on the field and we planned to desperately keep Rohit on the field tonight as well. I think you’ve to balance everything up, you’ve to consider what the player wants and one thing our franchise does is look after its players.”

“There’s also no point rushing in back to get injured and miss the rest of the tournament when we may have a chance to win it. So, I think we’re doing the right thing and hopefully we’ll get him back shortly and he’ll have an impact on the backend of the tournament, get us into the playoffs and hopefully win the tournament for us from here.”

Do you think Rohit’s wicket made MI lose control of the game?

“I don’t think so. I think we were in a position to accelerate the game and we had made the right decision. The first 6 overs were exceptional for us with 56-0. Probably the next two overs cost us a little bit. I think we got seven runs in two overs which sort of sucked the momentum out from our innings. With ten wickets in our hand, you would expect to take a little bit of risk, but unfortunately, he got out.”

“We relied on needing someone else to come up and pick that momentum but we haven’t been able to do that in the past two games - someone coming in, imposing themselves and getting a kick on. That was the case again today. Polly had a little bit of a cameo but it is a lot to ask consistently of someone coming up and hitting 13 or 14 runs in an over.”

“I felt that on that wicket today, it was 175-180 wicket but we were well short of the score and KKR bowled beautifully in discipline and really put us under pressure with the bat and dominated the game and they deserved to win.”

Is conceding runs in the middle and death overs becoming a problem for MI?

“I don’t think so because if you look through the tournament our bowling groups did a pretty good job. The wickets were tough when we played in Chennai where we scored 150 and defended a couple of times in the first couple of games that we were out of.”

“First game we had put up a very good bowling performance but a couple of big overs cost us. We had kept them down to the score that we felt was below par but couldn’t chase it down. Today look, they played really well you have to give them that credit. They came out, were positive, put us under pressure. They bowled in some good areas and we understand they were good enough. They just kept that pressure on us and we just were not good enough to respond.”

“We have won four of the last six tournaments on the back of some great bowling performances. We will improve, I’m sure, in the next coming innings, we’ve got too good of bowlers to not to, but we just have to respond now under pressure. So, I am not concerned because we were just outplayed today but we expect to be a lot better in the next game.”

Onto the next encounter against RCB. See you there, Paltan.