Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Mumbai Indians, had no doubts about Akash Madhwal’s ability during his two years with the team, so he was sure that the Uttarakhand player would do the job for the team if they stuck with him. Madhwal, an engineer from Uttarakhand, got 5 for 5 in 3.3 overs to help the Mumbai Indians beat the Lucknow Super Giants by 81 runs in the IPL 2023 Eliminator on Wednesday. This put them one step closer to the final match.
“That is what we have always done. “People didn’t expect us to do what we did, but we did it anyway,” Rohit Sharma said at the awards event after the game.
The MI captain said about Madhwal that he had seen his progress with MI over the past two years. Rohit said, “He (Akash) was on the team last year as a support bowler, and when Jofra Archer left, I knew he had the skills and the personality to do the job for us.”
Rohit knows how to handle people better than most of his peers because he is a successful IPL captain. “Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of Mumbai Indians players join the India team. The India captain said, “It’s important to make them feel special and like they’re part of the team. It’s my job to just make them feel comfortable in the middle.”
“They (young people like Madhwal) know exactly what they need to do for the team, which is what you want.”
During the LSG run chase, there were three run-outs. The skipper was responsible for two of them, including a straight hit that got rid of Krishanppa Gowtham. “We liked it as a team (fielding). It’s great that everyone is helping out on the field. When we got to Chennai, we knew that the whole team had to be at the party. At Wankhede, you only need one or two great efforts to win, but here it’s a different story,” he said.
Jaspit Bumrah bhai has his own place, and I’m trying to do what I’m supposed to do: Akash Madhwal
Akash Madhwal, who is very modest, said that his background as an engineer makes him quick to learn new things. Madhwal, who will be 30 in November, didn’t start playing leather ball cricket competitively until he was 23. Before that, he focused on getting his BE degree. He played cricket with a tennis ball. When he was 24, Uttarakhand joined the BCCI, and he joined the professional cricket scene.
“I was just getting better and waiting for this chance. I got my engineering degree and played tennis-ball cricket, which was my favorite sport. “Engineers tend to learn new things quickly,” said Akash Madhwal.
In the last league game, he yorked Glenn Phillips and Heinrich Klaasen, and on Wednesday, he gave Nicholas Pooran an impossible delivery. “I just train, and that’s what we do. I’m proud of myself, but I’ll try to get better.”
He has been Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement for the season, but when asked about filling the shoes of India’s fast bowler, he was embarrassed. “Bumrah bhai has his place, and I’m just trying to do what I’m supposed to do. The best wicket was taken by Nicholas Pooran. Everyone at home believes I’m working hard.”
