IPL 2018: Rohit Sharma has Performed When the Team Needed It - JP Duminy

With form on their side, Mumbai Indians could not have asked for a better opposition and better venue than Kolkata Knight Riders and Eden Gardens to continue their winning run, as they continue their charge towards a playoff spot.

The defending champions had started the season in the worst possible manner, losing five of the first six games. It looked like the reigning champions would suffer a premature end to their season.

However, they have bounced back in style, winning three of their last four games to put themselves in contention for playoffs. Their upcoming match is against Kolkata Knight Rider, and the Rohit Sharma-led side will be entering the contest with their confidence sky high.

Mumbai Indians have not lost against Knight Riders in the last seven meetings. Moreover, their skipper Rohit Sharma loves to play at the Eden Gardens. He had scored a world record score of 264 in One-day Internationals at this venue in 2014 against Sri Lanka.

The right-hander had made his Test debut at this venue and had gone on to score 177. He also led Mumbai Indians to two IPL titles at this very ground in addition to making his first-class debut at Eden and scoring his first IPL century.

Rohit could not have asked for a better venue than the Eden Gardens to get back to his devastating best. Mumbai Indians now desperately need their skipper to fire who is scoring at a modest 28.87 this season.

Speaking ahead of the game, JP Duminy leapt in defence of Rohit, singling out the important knocks he had played so far this season.

“The general public will judge that Rohit’s performance has not been that good by his high standards. But for me, he has performed when the team needed it. That has been crucial. He played an unbelievable innings against RCB. We were nought for two, and he stood up and got 94. Those are crucial moments from a leadership point of view. You stand up when adversity hits the team. That is when your leadership mentality comes through,” said MI’s JP Duminy. “That is when your team follows you. And that is the cornerstone of who he is as a person.”

The South African further lavished praise on Hardik Pandya. The all-rounder had starred with both bat and ball when Mumbai beat Kolkata a couple of days ago.

“He is an exceptional talent and the kind of player you need at this stage,” he said. “What makes Pandya different is that he treats triumph and disaster just the same.”