Singaporean cricketer Tim David reflected at the Mumbai Indians (MI) and his own performance in the ongoing IPL 2022, as MI had a forgettable season with the five-time champions finishing at the bottom of the points table with just four wins out of 14 league matches.
Tim David said in a video posted by the MI on their social media handle: “There have been times when it’s been frustrating not getting the results we wanted to get straightaway. But it’s also been a rewarding season in terms of that we’ve been challenged. Personally, I’ve been challenged.”
Speaking on not getting much game time in the first half of IPL 2022, the all-rounder said: “I played a couple of games at the start and that was a good experience, my first time playing for MI. First games in India. And then, I obviously was sitting out for the team combination. As a player, it’s tough to deal with because you think you’ve got something to give the team and that’s just a period of time you have to accept. Try and support the teammates as much as you can.”
He also explained how he used the period on the sidelines to work hard on his fitness and skills during the IPL 15. David said, “I spent a fair bit of time in the gym, probably more than I could do if I was in the playing XI. I worked really hard on my batting, trying to be more stable at the crease and trying to have a more controlled swing. So I would like to think I have got quite a bit stronger. I think I’ve improved so much. It’s been a really good period of growth for me and also some experience on the field.”
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old admitted that settling into a new team environment was hard for him, but he started feeling comfortable as the tournament progressed. Notably, David amassed 186 runs in 8 matches at an average of 37.20 and a strike rate of 216.27 in the IPL 2022.
He added, “Initially, when you first come into an environment, you don’t know many people. So, it can feel a bit rigid or structured. But as we have gotten further into the tournament, you get more comfortable with everyone that’s here with us as part of the MI team. You get some different relationships with people. Spent a lot of time with Paul Chapman in the gym. So that’s been good.”
David signed off by saying: “There are some younger guys with some good exuberance. Guys like Ishan Kishan, he’s an experienced player but he’s good fun to be around, and get a bit of energy from him. Can always have a bit of a laugh. Another one I enjoy is Tilak Verma. Having a bit of fun with Ramandeep Singh, these guys are all players for the future.”
(With IANS Inputs)
