Captain Rohit Sharma and Proteas batting spearhead Quinton de Kock will be opening the batting for Mumbai Indians despite the 4-time champs roping in explosive Australian opener Chris Lynn for this season, coach Mahela Jayawardene said on Thursday.
Giving his take on Mumbai's opening pair in the thirteenth edition, head coach Mahela Jayawardene made it quite clear that Rohit and De Kock complimented each other very well at the top and made a formidable opening pair last season as MI racked up their fourth title. However, he added that having the belligerent Lynn as an opening option always added depth to the squad
"Having options is always great, Lynn is a great addition to the squad. But the combination of Rohit and Quinton has been phenomenal, they compliment each other very well," said Jayawardene in a virtual press conference ahead of the team's first match of the season, against Chennai Super Kings, to be played on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
"Both are very experienced cricketers and good leaders as well. So, why fix something that is not broken. Having Lynn as an option gives us flexibility in the squad. That's what we have always done over the last few years. We try and add more value to the team, more options so that we can be a bit more unpredictable during the tournament," he said.
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The 43-year-old Sri Lankan said that he was satisfied with how all batsmen in the squad had got accustomed to the conditions at the UAE in the pre-season training.
"The guys who were in Mumbai had some very good sessions. Zaheer and the rest of the guys who were there in Mumbai organised some really good sessions for the guys prior to arriving in the UAE. So, most of the Indian boys are in good condition when it comes to batting," said the former Sri Lanka captain.
"Some of the overseas guys did not have that opportunity so we made sure that they put in some extra work and now they are in good rhythm. We had a practice match a few days back and I'm really satisfied with where they are. It's just about mentally getting ready for that first game and I am not too worried about the skill levels of the individuals."