What They Said About

'Started from the bottom now we here' - Pollard

Mumbai Indians won their second IPL title by beating Chennai Super Kings at Eden Gardens, the culmination of a campaign that had begun with four consecutive defeats. Here's what the Mumbai players and coaching staff told iplt20.com after the victory

Mitchell McClenaghan: That's what triggered the turnaround - we started playing for each other and put our bodies on line for each other  •  BCCI

Mitchell McClenaghan: That's what triggered the turnaround - we started playing for each other and put our bodies on line for each other  •  BCCI

"Two IPL titles, a lot of other domestic T20 titles in the bag and the long list of titles go on and on. I thank God for that and I feel like I am a winner. I feel I am blessed. I hope I continue to do well for whichever team I play for and keep racking up titles … Started from the bottom, now we here."
Allrounder Kieron Pollard invoked the rapper Drake after Mumbai finished on top after spending a lot of time at No. 8
"Being a part of an IPL winning team is going to be at the top of my list in my cricketing career for a long time. I guess life will be changing for me after this. This experience with the Mumbai Indians will change the way I look at the game. Hopefully this is just the beginning and I have lots more to look forward to in the future."
Allrounder Hardik Pandya on the experience of his maiden IPL season
"Because I had won this tournament before, I was much more confident this time. One thing that I have learned this season is that you have to be consistent with your plans and not lose patience if you are not doing well as a team. Even when you lose a few games, you should not chop and change things. It makes life difficult for the players and the team on the whole."
The captain Rohit Sharma on how his leadership has evolved this season
"The way Ricky led Australia for so many years was very fascinating to see. He has brought that to MI. He was very clear in one message to the team throughout the tournament. It was, 'We are going to play our best cricket and no one can stop us from doing that. If we do it, nobody can come near us'. A lot of credit should go to Ricky, Sachin paaji, Shane Bond, Jonty Rhodes, Robin Singh and all the support staff members for our success in this competition."Offspinner Harbhajan Singh on the difference the coach Ricky Ponting and the support staff made
"Just being positive. We always had the talent. It was just ensuring that the guys believed in each other and realise that they were playing for the mate next to them and not just themselves. That's what triggered the turnaround - we started playing for each other and put our bodies on line for each other."Fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan on how Mumbai turned it around
"Some of the guys that played for MI for the first time this season did extremely well for us. The likes of J Suchith and Hardik Pandya were very impressive. Also, Vinay Kumar - I know he is an experienced campaigner, but this was his first year for MI. I thought he didn't start out very convincingly but he finished brilliantly. He peaked at the right time."
Sachin Tendulkar on how Mumbai's fresh talent performed this season
"I have loved batting with Parthiv Patel this season and I believe we complement each other really well. When I haven't scored, he has scored and when he has not got going, I have managed to put up a good show. I believe we created a good platform for the side in the tournament and we have done our role well in the Powerplay overs."Opener Lendl Simmons on his partnership with Parthiv Patel
"I think there are a range of guys who have impressed me from this team. I think the two guys who played for us consistently in the back end of the tournament; Hardik Pandya and Jagadeesha Suchith have great attitudes and worked hard. They have got big futures ahead and it was fun working with them."
Bowling coach Shane Bond on the young Mumbai players that impressed him.