Jos Buttler credits Mumbai Indians skipper after England batsman's 22-ball 41 puts defending champions in a commanding position against Kolkata at Eden Gardens
MI skipper Rohit Sharma and Jos Buttler during their 66-run stand in Kolkata on Wednesday. Pic/AFP. Inset: Jos Buttle
Kolkata: Whatever the format, Rohit Sharma is a connoisseur's delight. Perhaps, that is why he has often ended up frustrating his fans, gifting away his wicket in a moment's indiscretion and denying the treat he always promises. The good days, and they are not infrequent either, are usually marked by an ominous calm that comes from class and confidence.
MI skipper Rohit Sharma and Jos Buttler during their 66-run stand in Kolkata on Wednesday. Pic/AFP. Inset: Jos Buttle
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Jos Buttler felt it from close quarters on Wednesday, when Mumbai Indians chased down the stiff target of 189 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens to put their IPL campaign back on an even keel.
'Rohit Sharma had everything under control'
"He had everything under control; he obviously had a lot of confidence that he will be there till the end and win the game," observed Buttler after the two had stitched together a rollicking 66-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
"That he was in such good form and was so calm rubbed off on me. I think that got the adrenaline going and really settled me down."
Buttler was one of the men in form in the World T20 but failed to do enough in the final to clinch it for England. He arrived here a week later carrying the "huge disappointment" of a nine-wicket loss (to Rising Pune Supergiants) on his IPL debut. "We were determined to bounce back. That was a fantastic run chase," he gushed.
"We were under pressure to perform tonight (Wednesday), particularly after they had scored a pretty big score. The fantastic opening partnership (between Rohit and Parthiv Patel) laid the foundation and it was a masterstroke to send in Mitchell. He got a few sixes away it really gave us some momentum," Buttler said of Mitchell McClenaghan's promotion up the batting order to No 4.
Manish Pandey, whose power-packed 52 for KKR went in vain, dwelled on the difficulties of batting first. "You don't know how much you need. On any given day, a score of 180-plus batting first would have you believe you will win the game," he said. "The wicket became a little better (in the second half). I think that's what Mumbai Indians capitalised on.
"We were banking on our bowlers because we have a good spin attack and some decent fast bowling. But on some days, you just end up losing. You have to learn
from these."
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