Maharashtra derby to decide IPL-10 winner
Hyderabad: It is a position no team would want to be in before embarking on a summit clash. Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) who play the IPL-10 final against Mumbai Indians (MI) here Sunday, know fully well that they will not be there in the 11th edition of the event irrespective of whether they win the title or not.
IPL Governing council chairman has categorically stated the banned outfits Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) will return to the fray in place of RPS and Gujarat Lions and there won’t be a place for 10 teams as time will not permit to stretch the tournament from its present duration.
In these circumstances, RPS will no doubt, be under pressure, but then again the apathy of the organisers may spur them on to exceed themselves and beat MI for the third time this season. But then a final is always different, history doesn’t play a big role and the team that hold on to their nerves will emerge the winner. It is in this department that MI have an advantage, they have played three finals, winning two while it will be a maiden and probably the last appearance for RPS in an IPL final.
MI leg-spinner Karn Sharma who played a crucial role in his side’s victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 2 was quick to point out that past results wouldn’t in any way influence the final. “We are fully prepared and we will win the final. That is for sure. The losses were in the past,” he told reporters after the game against KKR.
RPS skipper Steve Smith also echoed the same view while talking to reporters Saturday. “Obviously, we will derive a little bit of confidence because of our past results, but then a final is a different ball game altogether. We need to play to our potential, nothing else matters then,” Smith told reporters here.
MI skipper Rohit Sharma was quick to point out that as a side they have failed to be at their best against RPS this season. “Tomorrow (Sunday) we need to correct that, we need to play good cricket and focus on our strengths,” Rohit pointed out.
PTI
