Quotes on the 8th edition of the Indian Premier League

"We're lucky that we're in this position and it's because of all the hard work we have put in over a month and a half. We have all the potential, it was a matter of putting it together and translate it into wins. As a captain it's important for me to say it's one last effort we need. We are really determined to change the table. I'm pretty sure the boys are experienced enough to know the importance of the match."

- MI skipper Rohit Sharma tries to inspire his side ahead of an enthralling IPL 8 final against CSK at Eden Gardens on Sunday

 

"I couldn't have asked for anything more! Our performance from the start was good and defending the total was amazing. We have been consistent once we started winning and we know the job is not done as we go to Kolkata. The support staff has held the team together because it's easy to drift away after a few losses. The Final in Kolkata will be a different ball game all together."

- MI Skipper Rohit Sharma on his team's playoff victory over CSK

 

"We spoke about how this game was going to be like a final and it was important to think about what we've done as a team. It was a clinical performance from ball 1. Playing in our fortress Wankhede will be special."

- MI Skipper Rohit Sharma on his team's crucial victory over SRH

 

 "It was poor fielding on my behalf. I thought we would do it, but Gayle came out flying. We played great cricket. The rain is something that happens in cricket. We got a great total on board but couldn't defend it. We've got to regroup and forget about this game. We've got to be switched on from ball 1."

- SRH Skipper David Warner after his team's loss to RCB

 

"It's very satisfying and very gratifying to win here tonight. Anything can happen in shortened games, and it was pleasing to see so many people stepping up. We have worked hard after our losses and we deserve to celebrate this win. Hopefully we'll take confidence from this into our last game, we knew if we could crack the RCB top three then we had a chance and the boys did that tonight."

- KXIP Skipper George Bailey on his team's victory over RCB

 

"That feels good! Bar one game the four games we have won we've won well, it is great to know we have those capabilities and we look forward to next season. That Powerplay bowling performance was the best I have seen at this tournament. It worked out well for us and we bowled really well in the Powerplay containing CSK and taking wickets at crucial times. I told Iyer to his face that he will be playing for India soon, he is a bright young talent."

- DD Skipper JP Duminy on his team's performance and young Shreyas Iyer

 

"That was one of the three we needed to win. We needed to take early wickets and be clinical, our bowlers did that. Miller is not someone you want to bowl to at the death but I thought our bowlers did really well, it was very nerve-wracking at the end though. If we stopped Miller then 160 was a par score."

- SRH Skipper David Warner on his team's tactics to restrict KXIP's David Miller from scoring.

 

"There is a joke going around in the dressing room... If Brendon Mccullum bats for 6-7 overs he will be cooked! He was tired but he batted really well tonight. I did not have to use Ashwin, I spoke to both the fast bowlers and I said I will not have to use Ashwin for this game."

- CSK Skipper MS Dhoni on Brendon McCullum's incredible batting performance. 

 

"Pandya strikes the ball really well and we saw that today, we wanted him to do the job and he did it. We want this badly and we wanted to win this match what ever the situation. In the end I am really happy with the way we finished off. It was a good bowling effort but we want to set high standards in the field and we didn't do that today. With the table so tight we have to continue playing well and you never know, we have to be on top form to qualify."

- MI Skipper Rohit Sharma on Pandya's match winning innings against CSK

 

 "If I do not smile after that performance there is something wrong with me, it was a complete performance! To see the guys step up and hit those areas was pretty special. The way Chris bats it is almost impossible to stop him on his day, I am glad it came off for him and it is a massive boost for us today. The way the bowlers stepped up was just as a commendable thing, they were brilliant."

RCB Skipper Virat Kohli on his team's all-round performance against KXIP

 

"We kept it simple. We are just taking it one game at a time and the two points was all that mattered tonight. It's very unusual to have rain at this time of year so we had to make some quick calculations but it was a very good partnership and Pollard finished it in the end. Harbhajan's spell was magical and we just need to keep moving forward now."

- MI skipper Rohit Sharma on his team's performance after a deserving victory against DD in a rain affected match at the Wankhede Stadium.  

 

"It was an important win. We had lost momentum, but turned it around. Rahane and Nair batted beautifully and the ball swung about nicely on this pitch. I thought there would be a little bit of seam with the new ball. It was nice to get pace and bounce. It was a good cricket wicket. Tonight we did a really good job with the ball. Hopefully, we'll win every game from here on in."

 

Unfortunately when we win, the next game has not been good. We need to break that pattern. Consistency hasn't been there. If we start winning a couple of games in a row we can turn it around

- Angelo Mathews on the need for consistency.

He (Warner) has batted exceptionally well throughout the tournament. Again today, he set the pace for us with the bat. He plays fearlessly. He plays smartly. He puts pressure on the opponent. He, along with Shikhar (Dhawan), consistently sets up a good platform to launch from.

- SunRisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody on David Warner's batting

 

 “I am really happy the way I batted today. I am happy the way things are going. More than the runs, the way I was hitting the ball was more satisfying. I would like to credit it to all the hardwork I have put in the nets.”

- MI's Ambati Rayadu on his incredible batting performance against RR at the Wankhede Stadium.

 

It was an important test of character for us after we missed out on the last game, coming back and performing here was a tremendous effort. I wanted the team to play freely and that's what Russell and Uthappa did. I knew with the firepower we have that we would chase down that total. A lot of credit must go to Russell and Robin, one of them had to bat long and that's what happened.

- KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir on his team's great display against CSK at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

 

This is a fantastic victory, it was the sort of wicket where you don't know what a good score is. I told the guys that we just had to keep the pressure on and we did that with the fielding and some top spin bowling. We are taking things one game at a time and it's important to just keep doing well and winning games.

- Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on his team's victory against Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

 

"Our top order could not do well, some more runs on board could do better. A total of 170 or some 30 to 40 runs on board could have been a good total and not an easy one to chase," Upton told reporters.

- Rajasthan Royals coach Paddy Upton after his team lost against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

 

"The wicket was good to bat on so we had to defend well so credit to our bowlers. It is good to get one over the line here and hopefully we can do the same in the next two. Tahir wears his heart on his sleeve and always gives us 100%, it is a privilege to have him in our side. We have a long way to go in the tournament so hopefully we will continue to go well."

- Delhi Daredevils skipper JP Duminy on his team's performance after they were finally victorious at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi.

 

It was a good game for us. Mitchell Johnson bowled and batted well, credit of the victory should go to Mitchell and Axar.

- Kings XI Punjab skipper Virender Sehwag on his team's performance on after they defeated Rajasthan Royals.

 

It's good to get the wins and I think it was important for us to get the winning feeling going and the winning habit. I think creating the momentum, that's the key. We have had two nice little injections of confidence, so we need to maintain that form and stay confident.

- Delhi Daredevils' coach Gary Kirsten on his team continuing the winning momentum

 

Looking at the balance and the combination of the team, it is better for me to bat at No. 4. I don't know if I will be opening again in the games to come but it all depends on getting the balance right. It doesn't matter if I bat up or down the order as long as we get the balance right. Right now, I am better off batting at No. 4. IPL is such that you have players from various cities and countries. The only reason we are trying so many changes is to get the combination. Once you start winning, everything will fall in place. I feel that once we start winning, which will start from tomorrow (Friday), everything will fall in place and we will get what we want.

- Rohit Sharma on Mumbai Indians still searching for the winning combination 

"I am surely disappointed. We didn't have a very good start. I did score runs, so did Corey (Anderson). But, overall it was not good enough. We have to touch up lot of aspects with regard to batting and bowling," 
- Pollard on Mumbai Indians' third successive IPL loss and on how MI need to improve several aspects of it gameplan.

 

Losing Rohit was a big blow for us. Rohit is our best batsman. If he gets going we chase runs easily. We have Corey Anderson to do the job, and Kieron Pollard who is a very senior player now. But we still want Rohit to give us that start. Once he gets going, no total looks big enough. Rohit is a class batsman and losing him upfront was a big blow for us.
- Harbhajan Singh on how Mumbai Indians are still heavily dependent on their skipper Rohit Sharma.

 

Nothing extraordinary. We played some stupid shots in the chase.
- Rohit Sharma on being asked about Mumbai's defeat to Punjab

 

I know one thing, irrespective of what is there, when it comes to Indian cricket, my name keeps popping up. Now that this has been settled, something new will pop up. It keeps popping up. I am quite used to it.
-MS Dhoni on his name cropping up in IPL betting allegations