Mumbai Indians’ (MI) Quinton de Kock on Friday (October 30) highlighted the importance of having an experienced and strong middle-order but added that it does not make the job of the openers easy.
WATCH- Quinton de Kock suffers a wardrobe malfunction against KKR
Defending champions Mumbai Indians, who have already made it to the IPL 2020 play-offs, boast a fearsome middle-order with the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya in their ranks.
"Having an experienced middle order, just in general helps out in any situation. I wouldn't say it changes our mind-set up front. We always try and look to get off to the best start possible, whether they're there or not," De Kock said on the eve of his team's clash against Delhi Capitals.
"Obviously knowing that they are behind you, the likes of SKY (Surya), Polly (Pollard), Hardik (Pandya), when you are out there, you just bat to the situation and if you're still lucky enough to be out there batting with them, it's just important you end up giving them strike because they're the bigger strikers of the ball, so yeah," he added.
Despite not having the services of regular skipper Rohit Sharma in the last three games due to injury, MI have got a great opening start with De Kock and young Ishan Kishan doing well at the top.
"Not much has changed, to be honest. Me and Ishan have a good understanding just as me and Rohit have a good understanding. Ishan's young and upcoming and very talented, so for him to show his flair is really nice to see. (He) plays a lot of shots and sometimes it can help me.
"When I'm not going, he ends up taking all the pressure off me. That's a pretty good thing in a partnership, especially up front there," the South African remarked.
De Kock conceded that initially he made a couple of mistakes but got going once he found rhythm.
"I knew I was batting well in the nets. (There were) just a couple of silly mistakes in the first bit of the tournament. (There is) nothing that can't be fixed, (it's) just a mental thing.
MI might have made it to the play-offs but De Kock insisted that the team's approach for the last two games would remain the same.
"I'm not a part of that thinking group but if I had to take a guess, we'd like to try and finish in the top two. That's our number one goal, so the next game is also as important as the last one. That's the goal ahead of us as of now,” he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
