Mumbai, April 14: Pune Warriors skipper Yuvraj Singh said he was very happy with the momentum gained by the team after two victories in a row in this year’s IPL.
Speaking to reporters after beating fellow-IPL debutants Kochi Tuskers, Kerala by four-wickets at D Y Patil stadium late last night, Yuvraj expressed satisfaction at his side’s second consecutive victory.
Pune Warriors successfully chased a victory target of 149, set by the Kochi Tuskers, Kerela.
”A win is a win, hard way or easy. I will take it. Very happy with the momentum,” Yuvraj said and praised Mohnish Mishra for finishing the game for his side with an unbeaten 37 off 21 balls.
”I tell him to bat at no 6, but he wants to open. His game is suited at no 6 and he will bat at that position,” said Yuvraj.
”After me getting out, (Robin) Uthappa made a quick 25-30 runs and had a good partnership with Mohnish, who took the match to the end,” he added.
Yuvraj was also happy with the team’s bowling that had their rivals in trouble at 24 for 4 before Kochi fought back. ”Our bowlers bowled well. We took four quick wickets in the last match too,” he said.
The captain said he was happy to bat second in the match. ”Some captains like to put up a total, some like to chase. Our team is chasing well. Happy to bat second,” he said.
Yuvraj said the collision between Graeme Smith and Rahul Sharma was bad and the extent of injuries to both the players would be known in a day or two. ”He (Smith) is struggling at the moment. We will assess his injury in the next two days. It was a bad collision.
We will come to know about the extent of injuries in a day or two,” Yuvraj said.
In the 19th over, there was an on-field collision between Rahul and Smith when both the fielders went for a high catch near the sight screen without calling out to each other. Smith hurt his knee and needed medical attention and a substitute fielder. Both the players were seen walking out to bat with a substitute runner during their run chase.
Yuvraj was non committal about the decision of the Indian government to resume bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan.
”It is not in our hands. It’s not my call. It’s they who decide. My job is to play,” he said.
—-Agencies