Three bad overs cost Mumbai Indians the IPL 2018 match vs RCB: Shane Bond

Mumbai Indians bowling coach Shane Bond said that they were on top for most of the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Tuesday, but three bad overs from the bowlers cost them dear.(RCB vs MI highlights)

In fact, two of the overs made a massive difference. Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli said that the JP Duminy over early on, in which Manan Vohra scored 20-odd runs, was the turning point. His teammate and pacer Tim Southee said the last over from Mitchell McClenaghan which earned Colin de Grandhomme three sixes was the one. (RCB vs MI scorecard)

Bond admitted that they were chasing 15 runs too many. (IPL 2018 points table)

“We gave 15 runs above what we would have liked. Whereas we bowled well for 17 overs, we bowled three overs which were terrible basically, which cost us probably 60-65 runs,” said Bond.

“That was always going to make it difficult. I think 155 or anything under 160 would have been good for us. But 170 or 165 was always going to be difficult for a run chase,” added Bond.

“It is a sense of déjà vu. It has happened in the past that we’ve had 17 good overs and three bad overs that have cost us games. So that’s the most difficult thing. You expect to go for runs, the quality of players, the size of the grounds but overs that go for 20-plus or 25 cost you the game and that happened to us today,” said the Mumbai Indians bowling coach.

Bond defended skipper Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat at No. 4 after his innings at No. 3 helped MI beat Chennai Super Kings in the previous game.

“If you look at the success of the team and the times you have won titles, he has always batted at No. 4. So at the end of the day, he has batted at No 4 and won games for us. There’s always been a debate about where Rohit should bat. History would suggest No. 4 is the best place he should bat at. Today he got a beauty of a delivery,” added the former New Zealand fast bowler.

Mumbai Indians have now lost six games and have just four points from eight games. Bond said that they’d like to win all their remaining matches and hope other results go their way.

“We’ve lost six games now. Obviously, we are very disappointed with the way we are going. We have six games left that we have to win. We need to win six games in a row and hope for the best results. I believe we have got players who are capable of winning tournaments for us.”