Jayawardene sounds cautiously optimistic ahead of crucial tie against Capitals

Mahela Jayawardene, right, will be hoping for fine performances from Suryakumar Yadav, left, and skipper Hardik Pandya in the big game.
| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI

Mumbai Indians is in a tricky territory. It has an outside chance of making it to the top two at the end of the league stage in IPL 2025. But at the same time it is far from being assured of a place in the top four and entering the playoffs. No wonder then that head coach Mahela Jayawardene sounded cautiously optimistic ahead of the crucial match against Delhi Capitals.

“What we can control is what we have given in preparation and then tomorrow’s game, so just take it that simply,” Jayawardene said here on the eve of Wednesday’s clash against Capitals.

“I know you guys might think, how can it be? It’s a big game for us. But it’s still a game of cricket, whether it’s a World Cup final, whether it’s an IPL final. I can’t control the dynamics. I can’t control the fans or how media is reacting to the whole thing.

“What I can control is to make sure the guys are focused to play a game of cricket. It will be for them a normal game of cricket as long as I can get them to think like that. That’s the way forward.”