IPL 2018: Disappointing to Stay on the Losing Side, Says Rohit Sharma

For the first time in his Indian Premier League (IPL) career, Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Rohit Sharma failed to score 300 runs as the defending champions were crashed out of edition eleven.

On the other side, Delhi Daredevils had a troublesome season but they ended the league in style. The spinners trapped the Mumbai batters.

Sandeep Lamichhane and Amit Mishra shared six wickets between them as Mumbai failed to cross the final hurdle.

Batting first, Delhi made 174 for four in their 20 overs. In-form batsman Rishabh Pant made it count one last time, scoring 64 off 44 balls.

The southpaw hit four sixes and an equal number of boundaries to help his side get a solid total. A late burst by Vijay Shankar ensured the bowlers get a task in hand.

Surya Kumar Yadav departed early but his opening partner Evin Lewis helped his side get to a decent start. He missed out on his fifty by two runs. But to Delhi’s delight, the middle-order crumbled under pressure.

Rohit Sharma on the loss:

All-rounder Hardik Pandya got a start but was undone by Mishra for 27. Ben Cutting hit a six of the first ball of the last ball but he too departed to leave Mumbai with no hope.

Skipper Rohit credited Delhi for pulling off a stunner. He added that they could have done better.

“Disappointing on not being able to cross the finishing line,” he said during the post-match presentation.

On the loss, the explosive batsman said: “Of course it is disappointing to stay on the losing side and not qualifying. We knew it was an important game for us. Hats off to Delhi, they played good cricket, bowled in the right areas. We also knew that chasing would be tough, considering the way the wicket played. But taking the excuse away, we played bad cricket.” 

The 2018 edition has been a closely fought contest. Delhi, at the bottom, finished the two points less than Mumbai.