“Just want to absorb all the information Rohit and Bumrah share”: Mohammad Nabi

“Just want to absorb all the information Rohit and Bumrah share”: Mohammad Nabi

mi

Two wins in two games, and the Mumbai Indians' momentum is blowing strong with utmost positivity in and around the Wankhede Stadium. But it doesn’t stop here. We keep moving forward and marching on.

Seeing how the MI mentality worked wonders for the team in the last two games, Mohammad Nabi sat down with the media ahead of the blockbuster Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings matchup on Sunday (April 14).

The Afghanistan all-rounder was quite candid about how the team has been playing good cricket and that things are falling into place.

“The start of the tournament was not that good. We played some excellent cricket away at Hyderabad and Gujarat but didn't win those games when the time came,” Nabi said.

“But from the last two games, the performance was based on the whole team's contribution and not only individual performances.”

For a spinner at the Wankhede, it is usually tough work. The onset of dew in the evenings makes it even tougher. Nabi, with his batting hat always on even while bowling, threw light on his mentality.

“The conditions at Wankhede made it tough to bowl as an off-spinner. Leg spinners have many varieties, but it takes work to bowl as an off-spinner,” he said.

“Everyone thinks that one must hit an off-spinner when he comes to bowl. If it is a reverse situation, mentally, I would also take a chance as a batter to hit maximum runs off an off-spinner,” the Afghani star said.

“So, I try to keep myself with the same mentality, but it depends on the conditions available. If the conditions are in my favour and the ball turns, I go on the offensive against the opposition batters, thinking about how to take a wicket. If the conditions don’t favour me, I start thinking about how to save myself, whether by bowling a yorker, a slower delivery, a wide ball or a wide yorker. That's the mentality I use,” he added.

Nabi is one of the most experienced T20 cricketers in the world, and having joined Mumbai Indians, he has now rubbed shoulders with Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah - stalwarts of T20 cricket for MI. And he’s loving it.

“I'm always talking to Bumrah and Rohit. These two are the most senior players in the team. They've played a lot of cricket for MI and won many games for MI. They have more experience and knowledge of playing at the Wankhede. I discuss everything with these guys and absorb the information they give.”

So, CSK are up next. Our arch rivals. The tournament is heating up, and there’s nothing hotter than this. MI do have history in their favour in this rivalry, but Nabi was happy to play it down and keep it simple.

“If you look at the last two games, we're doing well as a team. Our bowling and batting plans are going well, which is why we won both games.

“We already discussed all these things (suggestions on gameplay based on his T20 experience) for tomorrow's game in the meetings, and hopefully, the boys will execute well tomorrow. Every game is important, and each has its plan for different players and teams.”

Right then, Paltan, you know the drill. Nabi is ready. Mumbai Indians are ready. Both these teams are squaring off just once in the league stage this year. Let’s bring the bragging rights home!