“Unfortunately, my father was in hospital, in ICU, he was released yesterday, so I was playing the match for him,” Mohsin said after successfully defending 11 in the chase final. “He was probably watching the game on TV. So he was playing for him. He was in the UCI for the last ten days. He must be very happy.”
While speaking to the announcer at the end of the game, Mohsin also reflected on his tough 12 months. After taking 14 wickets in nine matches at an economy of 5.97 in his first IPL season in 2022, Mohsin suffered a serious shoulder injury and did not play any competitive cricket for a whole year.
He was unfit for the first half of IPL 2023, and the game against Mumbai was only the second time he had bowled this season, after going 1-for-42 figures in three overs against Titans.
“I’m playing after a year. I got injured in the middle, it was a difficult time for me,” Mohsin said. “The way I bowled last year, today I feel like I bowled like that, so I’m very happy.”
“I was just trying to do what I do in practice. That’s my strength. I just followed that,” Mohsin said. “Krunal” [Pandya] bhai He also came and asked me what I was going to do. I told, ‘BrotherI’ll do what I’ve been doing so far.’
“I was just trying to stay calm and not look at the scorecard. I just thought I just have to bowl six balls. I wasn’t looking at the runs, whether they need 10 or 11 runs. I was just thinking I have to bowl six balls. hello good.
“Because the wicket was gripping I thought I would bowl slower balls. I beat the batsman with the first two balls. I was just trying to change that with the yorkers. It was reversed a bit too.”
Mohsin said that he was grateful to the LSG team management for picking him against Mumbai, despite his poor performance in Ahmedabad.
“I am also very grateful for the confidence that the team has shown me. My last match was not good, but in this one they played with me,” he said. “Especially Gautama [Gambhir] Sir, Vijay [Dahiya] sir and the rest of the support staff, they showed confidence in me and played with me”.
“Mohsin is someone who has a very, very big heart. And if you have a big heart in this sport, you go a long way. And that’s what Mohsin is all about,” Krunal said. “Really happy for him. He hasn’t played cricket in the last year. He had a very serious surgery. And then to come here and play IPL right away in such a pressure situation, that shows how mentally strong he is.” He has a big heart and when someone has a big heart, the sky is the limit.”
LSG is now level with Chennai Super Kings on 15 points, behind on net run rate, and a win in their last league game, against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on May 20, will confirm their playoff spot.