Have learnt from watching Tendulkar, Dravid play: Simmons

Mumbai Indians batsman Lendl Simmons on Monday said he learned a lot watching cricket greats Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid play in Indian conditions, and added he tries to emulate some of their skills in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, all those good guys came from here playing orthodox cricket, striking the ball on (along) the ground to score runs," Simmons was quoted as saying by iplt20.com.

"I am not as orthodox as those guys; but when I do hit the ball on the ground, I get value for runs. I just try to emulate some of those guys at the start of my innings and then when I get a start, I go big," he said.

Set up by Simmons and Parthiv Patel, Mumbai cantered to a 23-run win against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali on Sunday.

The MI openers stitched together a 111-run opening stand in the must-win game on Sunday to set the hosts a stiff target.

"I think it is important that we get a start in every game. Watching the ball onto the bat and assessing the surface; these were things we were doing well these days. It is just a matter of carrying on when we get the start and keep batting deep in the end," he said.

The West Indian said that from now on it's a must-win situation for Mumbai after a sluggish start.

"Every game from now on is a must-win game for us because we got off to a bad start (in the tournament) losing the first few games. So, we have to win every game, play every game as a final now and that is how we are taking it," he said.

"So, I think we are going about it in a right way. We are getting a good start and our bowlers are coming to the party. So, it is good thing for us," Simmons concluded.