Mumbai Indians play their second and final afternoon fixture in Dream11 IPL 2020 against Delhi Capitals on Saturday.

MI with 16 points have already qualified for the playoffs while DC still needs to win one out of their remaining two games to make it to the top four.

Quinton de Kock addressed the media at the pre-match press conference. The wicket-keeper batsman shared his thoughts about his new opening partner Ishan Kishan, his form throughout the season, and team strategies ahead of the playoffs.

Does having an experienced Indian batting lineup in the middle overs allow you to be aggressive at the top and help you set the tempo?

Quinton: “I think just having an experienced middle-order helps out in any situation. It changes our mindset upfront there. We always try to give the best start possible whether they’re there or not. Knowing that they’re behind you and still need to bat, we got the likes of Surya, Polly, Hardik. When we’re out there, we just bat according to the situation. If you’re still lucky enough to be out there, batting with them, it’s just important that we end up giving them the strike most of the times because they’re the biggest strikers of the ball.”

Initially, the teams were preferring to bat first. Now in the second half, it seems like they’re preferring to chase. So as an opener, how does it change?

Quinton: “I think the only thing is reaching the score. You’re a little bit unsure what the par score is and should bat enough time out there in the middle to get a good score. The second one is just honestly knowing what your target is and how to go about it. It’s pretty difficult when we bat first, to say what’s a good total but you know when you have time. The more you bat, the more you could get a sense of how to figure it out. So that’s the biggest test for individuals, what they like the most.”

Do you prefer having a target in front and chasing?

Quinton: “It doesn’t bother me to be honest. Even if I bat second, I bat as if I set a target anyway. So not too much. Doesn’t bother me.”

How does the approach become different having Ishan or Rohit as an opening partner?

Quinton: “Not much has changed. Ishan has a good understanding just as I and Rohit have a good understanding. Ishan is young, upcoming, and very talented. He really likes to come out and play a lot of his shots and sometimes he can help me if I’m not going. It ends up taking a lot of pressure off me which is a pretty good thing in a partnership”

You had a slow start for this season. What was going through your mind in the first few games?

Quinton: “To be honest, there wasn’t much. I knew I was assessing a while in the nets. Just a matter of a couple of silly mistakes in the first bit of the tournament. Nothing that can’t be fixed. Before, it was just a mental thing. I hadn’t batted for a long time which was me just making sure, and trying to get over that knock. Once I found some rhythm, that’s when I started to feel a lot better and also out there in the middle. I think the whole time it didn’t pull off, it was just a matter of doing it out there.”

Does this rhythm have anything to do with the long break you had?

Quinton: “It did a little bit. I was a bit lost in how to go and build the innings. I didn’t know whether I need to go hard or not. I was a little bit confused for some reason. It was a really good break but getting some time and opportunity to bat a little bit longer in the middle and having a chat with the coaches just helped me to figure it out and understand much better now.”

Mumbai Indians look very settled throughout the season. What makes this team so balanced and tough to beat?

Quinton: “What makes us balanced is that everyone understands their roles in the team. We are all sort of very adaptable. We understand each other very well. The core group of the team has been around each other for a long time, so that also helps a lot. It’s only my second season, some guys’ first season here. It’s not too difficult to get involved and understand how Mumbai Indians play their cricket. So it’s pretty easy for us to get transitioned inside.”

Mumbai Indians have qualified for the playoffs. Will there be any different approach for the rest of the two games?

Quinton: “I don’t think so. I’m not a part of the thinking group. But taking a guess, we’ll like to try and finish in the top two. I think that to be the number one goal before we do anything else, the next game is just as important as the last one. So, I think that’s the goal ahead of us.”

Despite being qualified, the top two is the topmost priority?

Quinton: “I think being in the top two is most important. It’s our best chance to try and get ourselves a spot at the top of the league, in the final. So I think we have to be number one and qualify.”

Take us through the opportunities of playing in the league stages and what changes when it comes to the knockout?

Quinton: “To be honest, doesn’t feel like there are too many changes. In IPL, every game is such an intense game anyway. I think it’s just a matter of win or else you can get kicked out. I think that’s the big thing. Just to come so far, you don’t want to get kicked out. That’s one of the things but other than that, not too much else changes.”