Lessons learnt, MI will improve

Fifty-days of non-stop cricket have come to an end, but we didn't achieve what we would have liked to in terms of results. It was a 'so-near, yet-so-far' kind of feeling for the Mumbai Indians and we have only ourselves to blame.

Momentum lost
We started the IPL in an emphatic manner --- our batting looked good, the bowling was sharp and fielding was brilliant. But just when everything was going right, the game against the Kings XI Punjab disturbed the equation.

Suddenly, our batsmen lost their touch and we didn't get the right formula to set or chase a target. The last game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore was played on a different Chepauk wicket. It wasn't a turner but a low and slow wicket. The ball came on nicely and Chris Gayle made the most of it.

Gayle 'factor'
We had a plan that I would get Gayle out. But in my initial two overs, he only faced one delivery and by the time I came back for my second spell, in the 13th over, he was 70-plus. In fact, in a lot of their victories he was 'the factor'.

On a wicket like this, we expected our batting to chase the target. But we couldn't get close.

We, at the Mumbai Indians, have learnt our lessons and hopefully we will be good enough to play substantial cricket till the end. For me, it's time to spend some time with the family before embarking on the long tour to the West Indies and England. These two-three days are precious as I don't think I will see them before mid-September.

PMG