Mathematics aside, we just want to win: Pollard

Thrilled at the defeat of their main challengers -- Rajasthan Royals -- for the remaining play-off spot, key Mumbai Indians player Kieron Pollard said today that a crunch IPL game is on tomorrow against the Jaipur franchise at the Wankhede Stadium.
Fourth-placed Rajasthan lost to table-toppers Kings XI Punjab at Mohali to allow fifth-ranked Mumbai stay in the hunt for a play-off berth. Pollard said the team was glued to its TV sets.
"Obviously we were all happy and excited. We were all watching that game in the rooms or wherever we were, glued to the game. We knew from the moment Rajasthan lose we are in with another chance," said the big-hitting West Indian at an 'Adidas Meet and Greet fans' session here.

"We would have liked Rajasthan to have lost a little more worse, by 30-40 runs, but it did not happen. So there is a game on tomorrow," said Pollard about Royals' 16-run loss against Kings XI Punjab.
"We have to think about so many mathematical equations, but the first priority is winning. Once we put ourselves in that position to win, then we can try to achieve whatever target we need to. We are looking forward to that," he said referring to Royals' superior net run-rate and extra points (14 as compared to MI's 12 with one game in hand).

The strongly built Trinidadian said that returning to their favourite home ground -- Wankhede -- was one of the key factors in MI's dramatic turnaround in fortunes.

"Since we got to India things have turned around for us. We all know we did not do too well in Dubai. The key was coming to Wankhede. We are accustomed to playing there. We like playing there. Players who have been with Mumbai for a long period of time love it there. That was one key thing," he said.
The title holders had lost five straight games in the first phase of the tournament in the United Arab Emirates. Pollard credited the turnaround to team work.

"The other thing was sticking together as a group. There weren't any bickerings or arguments. We stuck together, worked hard and practiced with the same intensity as at the start of the tournament. Luck (too) started to follow us a little bit.
"Yes, we had a couple of hiccups (defeats) in between, but that's part and parcel of sport. You have to accept the good with the bad. We have accepted that we had done badly in Dubai. We tried to change it around. The most we can do now is continue winning, win tomorrow and see where it takes us," said Pollard.