IPL 2018: Time for Me to Give Back to Mumbai Indians - Aditya Tare

It was the very Indian Premier League which brought Aditya Tare in the spotlight.

Tare was signed up by Mumbai Indians in 2010 and was a part of the squad during the franchise’s title-winning campaigns in 2013 and 2015. However, he could not do much to make a mark or stop the franchise from releasing him after the 2015 season.

Perhaps the only moment worth remembering during Tare’s largely forgettable stint with the Mumbai Indians was the six he smashed off Australian all-rounder James Faulkner to take the side past Rajasthan Royals into the playoffs on the net run rate in 2015.

Chasing 190 to win off just 14.3 overs to qualify for the playoffs, Mumbai Indians rode on Corey Anderson’s whirlwind knock off 95 off 44 to score 189 off 14.3 overs. With the score tied, the umpires informed Mumbai Indians would progress if they hit the fourth ball of the over for a boundary and Tare rose to the occasion, hitting a six to take Mumbai’s net run rate above Rajasthan.

Mumbai Indians had gone on to win the title that season by beating Chennai Super Kings, but Tare’s association with the franchise came to an end.

In the 2016 auction, Tare was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 1.2 crore and could play only three matches before being sold to Delhi Daredevils. He once again failed to perform, playing just three games and scoring 18 runs.

Two years after staying away from his home state’s franchise, Tare is once again back with the Mumbai Indians. The keeper-batsman was bought by three-time IPL champions for his base price of INR 20 lakh and is now eager to repay the faith the franchise has shown in him.

“I started my IPL career here, and the franchise placed a great deal of trust in me in the past. Now, it is the time for me to give back to them and I am training hard for it,” he was quoted as saying by The Asian Age.

He further recalled the famous six of 2015, saying:

“It is definitely a great memory. We were having a poor season, and then we made a heroic return. I played a small part in it but hitting that six will surely be a special IPL moment for me.”

Unlike the previous seasons when Mumbai always had the luxury of some proven wicketkeepers which made it tough for Tare to get an extended run, the Mumbai star is set to get ample chance this time around. His only competitor would be Ishan Kishan who had played only one season of IPL so far.

Speaking about the competition, he said:

“Ishan is an upcoming guy, and I have experience. Both of us can link up well in training. I am looking forward to meeting him and the rest of the team. I will fight for my spot.”