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It’s a beast of a trophy. And it’s ours. We aren’t done gushing over Nicholas Pooran. Here he is, at the post-match press conference, walking in with his toddler daughter, and answering a whole range of questions. In this last one month, he’s given us memories to last us a lifetime. Excerpts..First thoughts on winning the championshipThe guys have been brilliant. This journey started last year for us when we lost in the eliminator. We got some different personnel, but the core stuck through. You see (Muhammad) Waseem or (Mohammad) Rohid or Waqar (Salamkheil) taking that opportunity and becoming match-winners. From day one, the objective was to win.&nbsp;On playing a captain’s inningsIt’s always important being the captain. Regardless of if I am the captain or not, I see myself as a leader and want to lead from the front. But in a tournament like this, everyone has to step up.&nbsp;To whom would he dedicate this winJust to the MI franchise. They are the most successful cricket franchise. This is their tenth win. Regardless of whether they have a strong team or not, their target is to win. This win is dedicated to them. They are very passionate. Really happy we could be the ones winning it for them.&nbsp;On the six dropped catchesThat was just one of our strategies to win (laughs). But I don’t want to comment too much on it. Maybe we could have won the game by a bigger margin. But at the end of the day, we got home.&nbsp;Thoughts on stepping up on the big nightFor me, it is all about stepping up. I believe if you want something in life, you have to go get it. Yes, finals is pressure, MI is a big franchise. I have lost a lot of games in my career so far and have learnt a lot. I could convert 20s into 30s, 30s into match-winning innings. Especially being not out as well in some innings. It is a big box for me to tick. Happy that all the all the hard work I have put in over the years is showing rewards, especially winning titles because that is big for me.&nbsp;On losing the toss and having to bat firstWe always wanted to bat today and I said it at the toss. Actions speak louder than words. It is exactly how we wanted to play the game.&nbsp;On Muhammad Waseem’s stellar formI expect franchises to take notice. Yes, he is a UAE player but he is very good. He is very aggressive, he has a lot to offer. He is young. I expect him to continue to perform and improve.&nbsp;Whether nervousness crept inChasing 208 was always going to be difficult, and thankfully we have a lot of senior players in the team. Even when Sam Billings was batting superbly, Bravo came up and said, ‘let’s make him hit over mid-off. Hopefully he can chip it’. Really nice to see it come off. You can’t buy experience. These guys have been in that situation. Even for myself, I have been captain for West Indies. I have had bad days and have made bad decisions. At this point, I have learnt a lot. It has helped me make better cricketing decisions. When you have really good quality players, you cannot ask for anything else. Akeal was bowling 2-3 overs in the powerplay for 10 runs. My job was easy.&nbsp;Summing up the ILT20 tournamentWe really wanted this win, and we got it. From the management to the physios, coaches, everyone, owner, director, works hard. The tournament is challenging. We played a game in Dubai, drive down and play a game in Abu Dhabi the next day.&nbsp;On being a part of the MI #OneFamilyI have said it before, I am a son of the T20 format and franchise cricket. The Mumbai franchise are one of the best in the world. That level of professionalism here is a good opportunity for every young player to interact with the legends as well. I had this opportunity when I was 20 years old in the IPL to come to Mumbai Indians and I got the opportunity to interact with Mahela Jayawardene, Sachin Tendulkar. Really happy to be involved and winning is just the icing on the cake.&nbsp;On the backing of the senior playersThe support was really important. Getting all the senior players to buy in and trust me 100%. Lucky to have them as teammates. We are building a relationship where most of the times I make a decision and they try and execute that plan 100%. As a young captain, support is really key. Boult, Bravo giving me that respect helped me a lot.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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“This one is for the MI Family. They are the best in the world”: Nicholas Pooran

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On the big night, at the biggest stage of them all, stand the champions – MI Emirates. After absolutely bossing the league stage in the second season of the ILT20, finishing on top of the points table, winning the first qualifier to ensure a direct entry into the final, and then totally bossing the big night, with a thumping win to cap off what has been an equally thumping campaign.&nbsp;CLT20 2011. IPL 2013. CLT20 2013. IPL 2015. IPL 2017. IPL 2019. IPL 2020. WPL 2023. MLC 2023. ILT20 2024.&nbsp;Let’s relive the big night!Another day, another massive opening standIf you were worried after a couple of quiet games where Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera weren’t quite hitting the sweet spot together, well, look no further. They stepped up to the task on the big night, and how! Waseem had a 24-ball 43 to his name, Perera a 26-ball 38, and together, MI Emirates had 77/0 in 6.3 overs. Proper carnage.&nbsp;Another final in the Blue and Gold, another Nicky P specialThe platform was set, and it was time for the explosion. And well, who better than our very own pocket dynamo, our skip, our leader, our man in form, Nicholas Pooran, to go berserk. With Andre Fletcher at the other end, they just went after everything, and Pooran finished with 57 off 27 balls with two fours and six sixes. MI Emirates had 208 on the board, and in all likelihood, the match in the bag.&nbsp;Another first over, another Akeal Hosein strikeHis inswingers have a fanbase of their own. And his strikes in the powerplay have been consistent all through the league. With the second ball, he trapped Dubai Capitals’ star from the previous innings, Leus du Plooy LBW. The Capitals just couldn’t recover. With the asking rate mounting and the rest of our bowlers striking regularly, the end was only a matter of time.&nbsp;Okay, here’s a fun fact: MI Emirates dropped at least half a dozen catches in the second innings, with the dew making fielding rather difficult. Still not for a second, did we look worried or under any pressure. That’s the sign of a team high on confidence. That’s the sign of a champion team. That’s what MI Emirates are tonight – CHAMPIONS OF ILT20 2024! &nbsp;

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MIEvDC Report: Make room for title #10 in the MI #OneFamily

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Habibi, it’s coming home! It’s title #10 in the Mumbai Indians #OneFamily! Our Blue is all set to get more Gold. The jinx of Dubai, the jinx of the Dubai Capitals who won both their league games against us, we’ve broken it all. Say it aloud, MI EMIRATES ARE THE ILT20 CHAMPIONS. Start the party. Start the celebrations.&nbsp;Another final of the Pooran madness in Blue and Gold. It’s not even been a year and we hadn’t come out of his exploits in the MLC for MI New York, and he’s brought that monster form on the big night, completely grabbing the game by its neck and lifting the total to a point where it was safely out of the reach of the Capitals. There’s really something about this iconic jersey of ours that brings out the best in the players. Let’s read what they said after scripting history in Dubai.Robin Singh | MI Emirates Head Coach:&nbsp;Feel a sense of relief. We wanted to win this tournament. We have a lot of players from last year, and people like Mahela and the whole back end team put things together brilliantly. Pooran led very well, led us instinctively at times. I’ve been around with the UAE players, and this format playing with International cricketers will be very helpful for the local players to understand what it takes to succeed at this level.Trent Boult: A big stage and the boys delivered. Everyone dreams of playing in big finals, happy to win. I have enjoyed myself, the wickets are always a challenge. The biggest challenge was moving between venues, but always great to play in a Mumbai shirt. I think this was the best wicket in the tournament, it got better in the second innings. We spoke hard about what it would be like to bowl second, and the spinners delivered for us once again. It was a great total we got, gave us a lot of runs to play with and 200 in a final is always challenging.Kieron Pollard: We came third last year, and this time we wanted to go all the way. We played as favourites and to get through means a lot for me, and the franchise. The guys will be under pressure next year, but we try and build a winning culture in the MI family. The way the guys batted, batting them out of the game in a final was brilliant. (On the fielding) It felt like we had a trampoline in our hands, everything was bouncing out. But fortunately, didn’t cost us tonight. (On Pooran) He has done it brilliantly, he continues to grow as a cricketer and a leader. Long may that continue.R Vinay Kumar | MI Emirates Assistant Coach: Great feeling. The efforts from the boys was outstanding. First time we scored 200 in this tournament, and the way the bowlers bowled was unbelievable. We treated this as any other game, and wanted to give our best. All about giving that 1% extra, that's what captain Pooran mentioned in the team meeting. This trophy is special, first one in my coaching career.Akeal Hosein: The senior guys showed me how to win. I think Fletcher stuck it out, and exploded in the end and the skipper took it on his shoulder to get us a big total.Dwayne Bravo: We needed this, it was a very important tournament for all of us. The leadership of Nicholas Pooran was brilliant, he deserved it. This is special, the first time in this tournament. In the team meeting we kept focusing on being champions. Feels good to be a champion again.

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HABIBI, MEET THE ILT20 2024 CHAMPIONS – MI EMIRATES

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It’s nearly time, the time to ensure our month-long effort culminates in the title. From our bowlers setting the tournament on fire, to the batters stepping up, to the conditions on offer, MI Emirates skipper, Nicholas Pooran, dives into a range of questions at the pre-match press conference in Dubai on Friday (February 16) ahead of the ILT20 2024 final. Excerpts..On the bowlers performing exceptionally wellWe spoke at the beginning of the tournament, that batsmen win you games but bowlers win you tournaments. Nice to see bowlers stepping up in these conditions and putting those performances in. Not just Fazalhaq Farooqi and Trent Boult but Akeal has been brilliant as well. Bravo is doing what he always does. We definitely cherish that and we are happy.&nbsp;On the MI emirates openers, Muhammad Waseem and Kusal PereraThose guys have been fantastic. But in T20 cricket it is all about adjusting to the conditions and the opposition. It is a big challenge where you play one attack today and then a completely different attack the next day.&nbsp;On Kieron Pollard and Dwayne BravoYou can’t buy experience. Not only experience, but that firepower and leadership qualities. We have the opportunity to learn from them. They have the won the most T20 titles, have the most wickets, have played the most matches.&nbsp;On the local UAE talent in the teamWaseem has been brilliant not just this year, but last year as well. It is important to have this tournament for these players. Really happy to see him getting the opportunity to see him do what he does. With the amount of T20 cricket happening in the world at the moment, good opportunity for him to showcase his talent to the world. When it comes to Rohid, we are just really happy for him. Bravo just loves this kid and the energy he brings. Rohid finds himself in a situation where if Boult doesn’t start well, we have to give him some overs. He is just happy to take the ball and run in with energy. That attitude makes a lot of difference. We are just happy for him that he gets this opportunity to express himself and learn at the same time. Just brilliant to have him and see how he goes.&nbsp;Thoughts on the conditions on offerWe expected earlier in the tournament that the pacers will have an impact. We knew there would be grass on the wicket and the ball would seam. Coming from the T10 tournament, we knew the ball would seam. But as the tournament goes along, the wicket slows down. Wrist spin is really important in world cricket and there is no surprise that these guys are having such an impact.&nbsp;His summary of MI Emirates’ campaign so farWe didn’t get off to the best start losing the first game of the tournament. For us it was just about understanding the conditions. In two years we won just one game in Dubai. Playing the last game was a challenge because we knew that if we wanted to qualify for the final, we had to win that game. We have been fantastic in Abu Dhabi and have had a 100% record in Sharjah. We had to come up with tactics. As a group we wanted to win. And to win, we need to step up as players. A lot of our players have been consistent. This is a long tournament. Form can change as well. But the fact of the matter was that we wanted to do well for the team and the franchise. Yes personnel have changed because of the international schedule and there is some chopping and changing, but the message is the same – giving 110% on the field and the results would take care of themselves.&nbsp;

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Nicholas Pooran: “We just want to give 110%, and the results would take care of themselves”

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One sleep. That’s all that stands in the way of us and the silverware. The coveted silverware. The silverware that sums up the culmination of a month-long effort in the desert, an effort where MI Emirates have finished at the top of the league table, playing a super-attractive brand of cricket.&nbsp;It's time for the big one. It’s time for the match that matters. It’s time for the most important 40 overs. It’s time for the three hours that will script history. It’s time for the ILT20 final!This 2024 season has been special. Despite the injuries, despite the hectic international schedule, despite the odds, our boys have found a way to keep winning, finding new ways to step up to the occasion, fighting as a pack. It’s time for that one final hurrah. The Dubai Capitals await, a team we have our own personal scores to settle against, having lost to them twice in the league stage. At the biggest stage, for the biggest prize, let’s rub some more Gold on our Blue!&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals&nbsp; When: February 17, 2024 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm IST Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai What to expect: A festive atmosphere in the stands, a lovely wicket, lots of noise, and hopefully the trophy coming home at the end of it all! &nbsp;

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THE GRAND FINALE | MIEvDC Preview: History beckons, let’s make it trophy #10 in the #OneFamily

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Two back-to-back losses, a game against the Gulf Giants, a team that knocked us out of the 2023 playoffs at a venue where we haven’t won a single game this season, well, we have our revenge, we have our momentum, and we have our spot in the grand finale booked! Start the party, bring out the DJ hidden inside you, and when you have the time to catch a breath, have a read on how the day went ..&nbsp;Our trio is back, tell the world!&nbsp;Nicky Pooran, Tim David and Akeal Hosein, flew in from Australia this morning, and immediately resumed from where they’d left. At 46/3 in the seventh over, MI Emirates were in a spot of bother, but skipper Pooran counter-attacked his way to a 28-ball 30 in a solid partnership with DJ Bravo. And then Tim came in, built on the platform with a 21-ball 29 to take the team past the 160-run mark. And Akeal, of course, did what he’d been doing all season – pick up powerplay wickets for fun. James Vince fell to an inswinging delivery off the first ball of the innings, and Chris Lynn fell to a delivery that spun sharply to grab the leading-edge of his bat.&nbsp;Polly power on full displayHe came, he stood, he swung, he delivered. For the third game in a row, Kieron Pollard put on a show with a 14-ball 27, giving the innings a much-needed impetus at the death, and along with Tim David, making sure the slow start was more than made up for.&nbsp;Spin it to win itSeven wickets were shared by our three spinners, with Akeal taking the first two, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth taking three in the middle, and then Waqar Salamkheil coming in and closing out the innings. Together, they made sure the Gulf Giants never got any rhythm through their innings. The result: A comfortable 45-run victory, and A PLACE IN THE ILT20 2024 FINAL.&nbsp;Saturday. February 17. Dubai. The jinx is reversed. The momentum is seized. The stage is set. ILT20 trophy, MI Emirates are coming for you!&nbsp;

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MIEvGG report: Our Valentine’s Day gift: A PLACE IN THE ILT20 2024 FINAL!! 

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It might be the season of love. But this 14th Feb, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, love is probably the last emotion you’d feel. The Gulf Giants – fresh from their four-match winning streak – are on our radar. It’s a revengeful Valentine’s Day. MI Emirates were one among their four. Our last league game wasn’t the finish and the momentum we wanted going into the playoffs, and the Giants are to blame.&nbsp;Let’s not forget though, we are coming in as the table toppers. We’ve been playing a super attractive brand of cricket all season, and have had some thumping wins to show for. Each of our players have taken turns to be the standout player through the league stage, with the others playing the perfect second foil.&nbsp;Our record in Dubai is three losses in three games. The Gulf Giants are the same team that knocked us out of the competition in 2023. It’s time to reverse things around. Bring. It. On.&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants When: February 14, 2023 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm IST Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai What to expect: Well, it’s raining in Dubai a day before the match. Correction, it’s pouring in Dubai. Expect conditions to be damp, the outfield to be soggy. Never mind, if you happen to be in the stands, make sure you have your helmets on, to save you from the massive tonks.

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Qualifier 1 | MIEvGG Preview: A RED HOT Valentine’s Day in store

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MI Emirates announced the signing of Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Reece Topley and Monank Patel on Tuesday (February 13) ahead of Qualifier 1 of ILT20 season 2.&nbsp;While Topley and Monank have joined the team as replacements for Fazalhaq Farooqi and Corey Anderson respectively, Rajapaksa joins the team as second Wild Card entry for the seasonUSA wicketkeeper batter Monank was also part of the wining MI New York squad in the inaugural season of MLC.&nbsp;The table topper of this season of ILT20, MI Emirates, will play the qualifier against Gulf Giants on 14th of February at the Dubai International Stadium.&nbsp;

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Rajapaksa, Topley and Monank join MI Emirates ahead of Qualifier 1

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A tale of spin. First our spinners completely strangled the Dubai Capitals’ batting after they got off to a flier, and then their spinners did the same to us. It might not be the perfect end to our campaign, but with the other teams’ results coming in as well, it’s the perfect place to finish at after the league stage – AS TABLE TOPPERS!!Yep, we are the toppersWith six wins in ten games and a net run-rate of +1.469 to go with it, we have booked a spot for the first Qualifier with the Gulf Giants. There aren’t many better ways of spending your Valentine’s Day.&nbsp;Okay, so where did this game go wrong?In the batting, you’d think, because 148, on most days is a total we would have backed our boys to chase down with ease. Sadly, today wasn’t one of those days. We started off well, in fact, getting to 50/1 inside the fifth over. But Haider Ali, with a spell of 3/16, along with the mystery of Zahir Khan and the control of Sikandar Raza, triggered a mini collapse, and the batting just couldn’t get going from there, succumbing to a 19-run defeat.&nbsp;Our spinner claw back in style&nbsp;Tom Banton and Max Holden got the Dubai Capitals off to 88 in nine overs. But once Waqar Salamkheil trapped Holden for 51, Vijayakahnth Viyaskanth and Dan Mousley too sprang into action, drying up the runs, picking up regular wickets, and bundling the Capitals out for 147.&nbsp;Right then, the stage is set. The date is set. The occasion is set. We’re officially into the business end, and our exploits in the league stage now means that we have an extra chance of making it to the final. But we’re going to try our absolute best to seal it come Wednesday (February 14). We know to play the big stage, and we know how to get back on the winning horse come the playoffs..&nbsp;

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MIEvDC Report: A tough outing, but MI Emirates confirmed as points table toppers

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One final league game before we get down to serious business. And we’re set to finish against the Dubai Capitals, the same team we started this season of ILT20 against. It wasn’t a pleasant game for the MI Emirates, and was the only game we lost by a big margin. There’s a lot to avenge. We might have qualified for the playoffs, but there’s plenty to play for. Nailing a top two spot! Regaining some momentum we lost in the previous game!&nbsp;Skipper Polly is here. After the last game where he so very nearly carried us over the line, let’s do it for him. He’s been a certified Mumbai Indians #OneFamily legend over the last 15 years, and just his mere presence is going to lift the younger boys in the side. Oh, and don’t forget that shrewd cricketing brain of his. With Nicholas Pooran, Tim David, Akeal Hosein and Fazalhaq Farooqi off for national duty, it’s the perfect opportunity for someone new to turn match-winner!&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals&nbsp;When: February 10, 2024 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm ISTWhere: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu DhabiWhat to expect: A resurgence. We’re back in our home, our fortress, and we are all set to go back to being that unstoppable force as we storm into the playoffs.&nbsp;

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Match 10 | MIEvDC Preview: Momentum, revenge, and nailing the top spot await!

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A nine-ball 26, a fight right until the end, and Jordan Thompson can be a proud man. Although MI Emirates weren’t able to get over the line on Thursday (February 8), he was happy with the team’s effort, and was confident of finishing in the top two as he spoke to the media at the end of the day’s play in the post-match press conference. Excerpts..On taking the game too deepIt was important we took the chase deep. It was a good pitch in the powerplay, but unfortunately we lost two or three early wickets. It was important that Polly (Kieron Pollard) and Odean (Smith) took it deep, but unfortunately we couldn’t get over the last hurdle.&nbsp;On his batting approachYou try and measure how many balls you have and how many runs you need. With 30 off the last over, you have to swing and hit boundaries. Our batsmen were trying to take it deep. Unfortunately we couldn’t get over the line.&nbsp;Whether complacency is creeping in…Absolutely not at all. We have had a few guys coming in after a few of them left. We kept them to a respectable total. On another day if we bat slightly better, we’d chase that scored down.&nbsp;On the crowd and the venuesIt’s been fantastic. I love coming to the UAE to play cricket. The fans have been better than last year. The tournament is only going upwards. It’s a great event to play in.&nbsp;Thoughts on the business end of the leagueI think, fingers crossed, we’ve made the top two. If we win that Qualifier, we make it to the final. That’s the aim and hopefully we’d be heading that way.

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“Absolutely no complacency has crept in”: Jordan Thompson 

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Amidst the action coming in at breakneck speed for three weeks straight, it was nice to have this four day break to refresh, rejuvenate, and hit the ground running again. What’s interesting though, is that the MI Emirates side that will take the field on Thursday (February 8), will have a slightly new look to it with Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein and Tim David having departed for national duty. In case you’re a little too engrossed in the ILT20 and haven’t been keeping up with the cricket in the rest of the world, and you’re wondering why these players need to depart, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are set to square off in a T20 series, as are Australia and West Indies.&nbsp;Having sealed a play-offs spot, what this means now is an opportunity for the rest of the squad players to have their moment under the sun and take us to our next immediate goal: finishing in the top two. We’ve said it a thousand times, but let’s say it again, every game has thrown up a new hero. Now’s the time and the opportunity for someone new to be unearthed.&nbsp;Our ledge, the MI #OneFamily superstar, Kieron Pollard is here. His exploits from the first season of ILT20 are still fresh in people’s heads, and he himself is coming in on the back of some good form in the SA20. It’s going to be a treat watching him light up the desert.&nbsp;What: Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates&nbsp; When: February 8, 2024 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm IST Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai What to expect: The two games that MI Emirates have lost have both been in Dubai. It’s time to correct that as well and seal a top two spot.&nbsp;

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Match 9 | GGvMIE Preview: Polly is back as we continue our ‘Mission top-two’

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So very nearly there. Skipper Pollard nearly did what he’d done for fun in the previous season, winning matches from nowhere. Sadly, in the final stages, in trying to getting a little cheeky, leaving us within touching distance. Here’s how the day went..&nbsp;Polly’s fight, Thompson’s finishing flurryAt 72/5 in the 11th over, with a 82 runs still to get, it looked like MI Emirates were perhaps falling behind. Kieron Pollard, forever the man in the middle-order for a crisis, stepped up in typical style. He was happy to take up a few balls, and then counter-attack. With 34 runs needed off the last two overs, the ‘favourites’ ball was still in MI Emirates’ favour. He spotted a Chris Jordan wide-yorker, walked acrorss, tried to then open his bat face and steer it past the keeper, but ended up finding short third man.&nbsp;Jordan Thompson then took over, smoking 24 off the final over – three fours and two sixes – but alas, it was a little too late.&nbsp;The spinners’ web was just too stickyWith Akeal Hosein flying out for national duty, it was Waqar Salamkheil to choke up the middle-order with three wickets. Around him, the debutant, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, with his mystery spin, was very economical, 1/18 in his four overs. And Dan Mousely got the big fish in James Vince, who top-scored with 59.&nbsp;Jamie Smith takes it awayIt was his 26-ball 43 that turned out to be the real difference. Apart from Vince who got off to a good start, none of the other Gulf Giants’ batters were able to get going, falling to our spinners. But Smith’s breezy cameo almost single-handedly lifted them beyond 150, giving their bowlers just enough to bowl at.&nbsp;So Dubai continues to be a tough hunting ground for us. But we return home next, with the Dubai Capitals coming over. We’re still at the top of the table, but with our final league game coming up, we’ll go hard in our backyard for momentum, and a spot in the first Qualifier!&nbsp;&nbsp;

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GGvMIE Report: Pollard, Thompson fight, but Giants sneak home by 5 runs

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Christopher Benjamin, Wicket-Keeper Batter from England will join MI Emirates for ILT20 Season 2. He was part of the MI Cape Town squad this season.He will be the stand-in keeper for the team, until Nicholas Pooran is back from national duty.He might be in the early stages of his career, but Christopher has left everyone impressed with his shot-making. Kevin Pietersen was one of them, left awestruck when he reverse-scooped a delivery into the stands. Johannesburg-born, England-bred, he now has a full contract with Warwickshire as well. We cannot wait to see him tonk a few into the stands here!&nbsp;

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MI Emirates announce signing of Christopher Benjamin

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With the West Indies and Australia set to lock horns in a mouth-watering three-match T20I series, three of our MI Emirates players – Nicholas Pooran, Tim David and Akeal Hosein – are all set to don their national colours.&nbsp;They’ve been absolute superstars while with us in these eight games. Akeal’s been our trusted new-ball enforces, turning matches with his multi-wicket overs. Tim’s been our designated finisher, powering the team to a big one with his cameos, and Nicky P has been the multi-tasker, whether it is him behind the stumps with the gloves, or with the bat in his fiery batting displays, or with his shrewd captaincy to lead us to this winning run.&nbsp;You’ll be missed, but we cannot wait to see you put on a show Down Under.&nbsp;

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Pooran, Akeal, Tim set to report for national duty

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This match was about the two points, but it was also about settling that last-ball-heartbreak score against the Desert Vipers. And it’s been done in style, with a dominant, one-sided, NRR-boosting, 30-run win. What more, WE ARE OFFICIALLY THROUGH TO THE PLAY-OFFS. Here’s how the evening transpired..&nbsp;The P madness: Perera at the start, Pooran at the end&nbsp;It was one of those rare days where Muhammad Waseem didn’t get off to a flier. But Kusal Perera wasn’t one to back down. Despite losing two early wickets, he mixed aggression with caution, for a solid 46-ball 65. And towards the end, came the Pooran show – 15 balls | 39 runs | 3 fours | 4 sixes. Suddenly MI Emirates were looking at a score of 188.&nbsp;Rayudu voodooHe makes batting look incredibly simple. He said he hadn’t touched a cricket bat for six months before coming into this tournament. Surely he’s finding his rhythm now. He started off slowly and was on 11 off 21 balls at one stage, but upped the ante with back-to-back boundaries off Wanindu Hasaranga in the 13th over, and more than made up for lost time, finishing with a 38-ball 44. The magic is starting!&nbsp;The game sealed in the powerplay0/1, 9/2, 13/3, 16/4, 37/5, 45/6. The Vipers just weren’t allowed to get going. Akeal Hosein and Trent Boult striking in the powerplay is something we’ve gotten used to, and well, they did, inflicting the first two blows. And then Fazalhaq Farooqi got into the act, making sure they collapsed. Although the lower middle order and the tail hung around to play out their 20 overs, they were never in the chase with the asking rate well beyond their control.&nbsp;Six wins in eight games. It’s a serious campaign we’re having. And keeping with the trend of producing a new hero every game, Farooqi and Rayudu were happy to take the mantle forward. With 12 points already under our belt, let’s shift our focus to finishing in the top two!&nbsp;&nbsp;

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MIEvDV report: Pooran-Perera magic executes ‘MISSION PLAY-OFFS’ successfully!

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We’re back in our den, we’re back to winning ways, and we’ve quickly been given the avenue to get back. It was a thrilling encounter against the Desert Vipers the last time we met them, sure, but it ended in a heartbreak, thanks to a thick outside-edge from Shaheen Afridi that got them three runs off the final ball. It’s time to set it right.&nbsp;In a season where MI Emirates have won six of their first eight games are sitting nicely at the top of the table, breaking away as well from the rest of the group, where one more win should more or less guarantee us a place in the play-offs, it’d be nice to settle scores against the Vipers, who mind you, are coming off a win themselves against the Gulf Giants. It’s been some campaign for us though, where every game has thrown up a new hero, with the rest of the cast playing their roles to perfection around them. It’s time to unleash another in the afternoon heat of the desert..What: MI Emirates vs Desert VipersWhen: February 4, 2024 | 2:30pm local, 4:00pm ISTWhere: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp;What to expect: It’s been a cold few days in the UAE, weather wise. But given that this is a 2:30pm start, expect it to be steaming, much like the action!&nbsp;

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Match 8 | MIEvDV: Avenging the final-ball loss on the cards 

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Few players in IPL history have a CV as decorated as Ambati Rayudu’s. Whether it was his first game, or his last in the 2023 IPL Final, he always found a way of chipping in and staying right in the middle of all the action. In an exclusive interview with miemirates.com, he goes down memory lane, reliving his historic moments through those eight years in the Mumbai Indians jersey, and talks about picking up a bat after six months as he dons that famous Blue-and-Gold again with a return to the #OneFamily as the senior-most batter in the MI Emirates side.&nbsp;Back in the MI colours after six years, how exciting is it to don the Blue and Gold again? Does this stint at MI Emirates take you back to 2010 with Robin Singh as coach and with Dwayne Bravo with you in the middle-order?I really have great memories of 2010. For me personally, as well as for Mumbai Indians, it was like a reconstruction. Sachin paaji was there, Robin Singh was there. That year was simply exceptional. We still talk a lot about that year because it was like a launch pad for MI.&nbsp;There are a lot of memories that come back to me. Many times, for a guy like me, who does everything that a team asks me to do, winning five tournaments (three IPLs, two CLT20s) in eight years meant a lot. Plus another final as well. I have had great memories playing in Blue-and-Gold. And now when I am at the end of my career, playing once again in the Blue-and-Gold, feels really, really special. In that period from 2010 to 2017, you did everything at MI – kept wickets, batted at possibly every position, finished games, played the anchor’s role. On your debut though, you took up an overseas player’s slot, and announced yourself with a superb fifty. What are your memories of that day?I was coming from the ICL into the mainstream. In the first game we played (against Rajasthan Royals), we played only three international players. So that kind of belief they showed in me straightaway meant a lot.&nbsp;I remember I hit the first ball I faced for a four. Also before the first game, Sachin paaji called Aditya Tare and me to his room, we had lunch together before leaving. He told us to express ourselves and play freely. I got huge confidence from paaji that day. Really great memories for any cricketer at the start of his career. Playing only three foreigners, scoring a fifty on debut, and winning the game was special. We played a very remarkable season. That one season, I would remember even more than some of the seasons we won. It was that special.&nbsp;Winning close games is something MI prides itself on, and you were a part of a bunch of them. You hit a last ball six against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2011 to take us home…The MI philosophy was built into the team, in terms of the winning mentality that everyone carries. We all always wanted to win and contribute at some level. If not with the bat, on the field, with one catch, one run-out, that sort of an attitude was there in everyone. We used to call it the ‘MI Attitude’, where everybody was giving it their all. Eventually you dream and you live for a moment like this, hitting a last ball six. This is something I would take to my dying bed.&nbsp;Another big moment, and one that’s still very fresh in the Paltan’s head, is the 10-ball 30 knock against Rajasthan Royals in that last league game of 2014 where MI had to win in 14.3 overs to qualify for the playoffs. How crazy was that game? You were nearly in tears when you got run-out at the end!I thought we lost the game, in the sense we couldn’t qualify for the playoffs. I didn’t know the mathematical rules. It had never happened since 2010 that we didn’t qualify for the playoffs. I couldn’t digest the fact that MI didn’t qualify. We wanted to qualify so badly. We had a bad start to the season, losing five games in a row in UAE. I mean, I don’t think there has been another game played like that. Maybe the 2023 final against GT. But I don’t think there has been a game like that. It has to be one of the best games in the IPL so far.&nbsp;And finally, in the 2017 IPL Final against Rising Pune Supergiant, tell us about that catch you took in the final over by the boundary to dismiss Steve Smith, who was taking the game away from MI. The ball was absolutely flying in towards you by the boundary. Do you still go back and watch that?I was out for a lot of games in that season. I got injured in the first game, and came back only before the play-offs. I was desperate to contribute. It was a low-scoring game, we had to win it somehow. Because I had been keeping wickets for that long for MI, I took the catch like a keeper. Reverse-cupping would have been difficult. It was a full-blooded shot from Steve Smith, and it could have gone through the fingers. It was a very square position too, very unconventional.&nbsp;I lost the ball halfway in the lights. Hyderabad has six lights, and there is one right behind square leg. I saw the ball right at the end. It was hit very fast. They needed five runs then, and the match would have been done if the catch hadn’t been taken. It makes me really happy. Those are the moments that win you tournaments.&nbsp;Now through your 14-year-long lens of being around in the IPL, what do you think made MI different?MI was all about winning at any cost. Winning was the only thing. We just wanted to win everything.&nbsp;Now as a senior player and a mentor to the players, you’re back with MI Emirates, who are at the top of the table after the first half of ILT20 2024. Who are the players who’ve impressed you?&nbsp;I think Muhammad Waseem is really good. There are a few who are yet to play, who are very impressive. The rest are seasoned players. We are playing well. I am coming back after six months without touching a bat. I am happy I have not been needed to bat much (laughs), but now I have had enough practice. Hopefully in the business end of the season, a big one will come out again.&nbsp;

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Ambati Rayudu exclusive: “At MI, winning was everything. We called it the MI Attitude”

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We’re back on the victory horse. After the last-ball heartbreak in the previous game, MI Emirates have gone back to absolutely bulldozing the opposition, with both bat and ball. Here’s how the day went..The customary powerplay BoultWe know the drill. Trent Boult simply cannot go through a powerplay without grabbing a wicket. Niroshan Dickwella was the victim this time around, foxed with a well-disguised knuckle ball that he ended up miscuing big time.&nbsp;Another Warriors encounter, another Akeal multi-wicket overThe last time around when these two teams met, it was Akeal Hosein’s over that grabbed three middle-order wickets that turned the game in our favour big time. Well, the same was the case today as well, with Johnson Charles and Basil Hameed falling off consecutive deliveries in the eighth over, derailing Sharjah’s innings to 57/4.&nbsp;Salamkheil’s slam-dunkJust when Seam Williams and Lewis Gregory were stitching up a recovery of sorts with a 21-run stand, Waqar Salamkheil and his unreadable left-arm wristies were just too hot for them to handle. Gregory fell first ,Daniel Sams fell off the next ball, and just like that, Sharjah Warriors’ innings just couldn’t take off.&nbsp;The Waseem-Perera madness is in the houseThe crowd at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium were in for an absolute treat. 80 runs in 5.3 overs – Muhammad Waseem smashing a 37-ball 13, Kusal Perera a 27-ball 47. Oh, brutal hitting just doesn’t get any better. They made sure any hopes of the Warriors had of pulling off a surprise was nipped right there. And after they fell, Andre Flethcher and Nicholas Pooran made sure the rate didn’t slow down, finishing things off with 53 balls to spare!&nbsp;So, MI Emirates consolidate their position at the top of the table. With 10 points and a NRR of +2.132, one more win should seal our playoff spot. But let’s keep our eyes on the road, shall we? Every game is treated as a must-win, and we are here to keep gaining momentum in this winning juggernaut.&nbsp;

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MIEvSW Report: Back to winning ways, with nine overs to spare! 

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After leading the MI Emirates to their fifth win of the season, first with his onfield tactics and then with a nine-ball 24, Nicholas Pooran has his eyes firmly on the big goal. He came out for the post-match press conference and took a whole host of questions. Excerpts..Thoughts on the winVery impressed. After that loss last game, we spoke about picking ourselves up. We wanted the two points today, and we knew that Sharjah wasn’t giving us. We spoke about working hard, respecting the game. The guys accepted the challenge and brilliant performance from them.&nbsp;On Waqar Salamkheil’s superb seasonHe has been fantastic throughout the season. Happy that he is getting the opportunity this year. Not only him, on different days there are different bowlers taking up the challenge. He has been brilliant for us and has been a match winner.&nbsp;On the opening combinationThey have been fantastic. The left-right combination at the top of the order has been fantastic. Perera coming here, out for form in international cricket, but he is stamping his authority here. Brilliant person. He came out and is being himself. It is wonderful to see him bat. Waseem is a wonderful player. He has been performing at the highest level for a while now. I am happy to see him in this leagues and happy to see him putting in match-winning performances. Sky is the limit for him.&nbsp;On his excellent formWe wanted to win the game without losing a lot of wickets. I knew it would help our net run-rate. I got a couple of balls in my zone and I said, ‘why not’. Lovely to hit a few for six.&nbsp;On the road ahead&nbsp;We have a lot of games to play still. Our goal is to finish at the top of the table. These tournaments change very fast. We can’t take anything for granted. We have to come out every day and practice. We have to try and put in 110% everytime. Can’t expect to show up and win. The tournament is not done. There is a long way to go.&nbsp;On the crowd coming out in large numbers&nbsp;It has been amazing so far. Nice to see the crowd coming out and supporting the team even on a weekday. It makes the game a lot more enjoyable especially from a player’s perspective. Really happy we could entertain the fans. I encourage the fans to come out and continue to show us the love and support.&nbsp;

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“Sky is the limit for him”: Pooran on Waseem's stellar consistency

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Let’s make it 4-0 over the Sharjah Warriors, shall we? We’re back in our home, our den, our fortress, and there’s no better place to put the heartbreak of the previous game behind us. We know it was tantalizingly close, we know we were on the wrong side of the luck, but we also know what it takes to get our juggernaut back on track and go on another winning streak.&nbsp;It was Akeal Hosein’s day the last time we met the Warriors in Sharjah, where that one over with three wickets of the middle-order batters just derailed their chase big time. We cannot take them lightly though. The Warriors are coming off a two-match winning roll, the last one in particular a thumping nine wicket win over the Dubai Capitals. It’s perfectly set up..What: MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriors When: February 2 | 6:30pm local, 8:00pm ISTWhere: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp; What to expect: Runs, bounce, and an attitude of desperation from our boys to drag us over the line and make it 4-0!

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Match 7 | MIEvSW: A mouth-watering clash of the table-toppers

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The game was a pendulum, constantly swinging, constantly switching sides, ball after ball. In the end, it was down to the Desert Vipers needing three runs to win off the final ball, and it was Shaheen Afridi’s night, getting a big edge of luck, and some more luck with the throw coming in at the wrong end. Here’s how it went –&nbsp;The last ball: 3 runs needed off 1 ball&nbsp;Trent Boult went full, Shaheen Afridi made room, slashed, got a big outside-edge that ran very fine. The man from sweeper ran there, saved the four, and then threw the ball to the keeper’s end. Alas, three runs were taken, but subsequent replays showed that had the throw gone to the non-striker’s end, Afridi would have been well short of his ground. Our four-match winning streak, sadly, won’t see a fifth.&nbsp;Rayudu and Akeal rebuild after initial wobbleMI Emirates had a rare bad start in this game, with Kusal Perera fell to Mohammad Amir off the second ball, Muhammad Waseem and Andre Fletcher attacked in the powerplay, but in 7.3 overs, the score was down to 58/4. Ambati Rayudu (23) and Akeal Hosein (24) took their time, saw off the threat and rebuilt the innings, laying the platform for Tim David and his final assault.&nbsp;Tim explodes like only he can &nbsp;14 balls, 28 runs, with two fours and two sixes. When the innings was stagnating just that tad bit, Tim David came in, provided the impetus, and lifted MI Emirates to a fighting 149. And boy, what a fight it was!&nbsp;The Vipers rocked in the powerplay21/1, 25/2, 26/3, 28/4. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rohid Khan were breathing fire in the powerplay, rocking the Desert Vipers’ chase. However, Wanindu Hasaranga, Azam Khan and Ali Neser chipped in with useful partnerships to keep them in the hunt and never let the game get too far away.&nbsp;Sherfane’s cameo turns the table again, and then the drama!&nbsp;With 21 runs needed off 17 balls, and with Sherfane Rutherford batting on a 21-ball 35, it looked like he’d take the Vipers home. But good ol’ DJ Bravo had other ideas, foxing with a slower one. Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Amir kept chipping in with singles though, took the game deep, and with 10 runs needed off the final over, brought the equation down to three runs being needed off the final delivery, before that outside-edge broke our hearts.&nbsp;

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DVvMIE Report: A nail-biting heartbreak, courtesy Afridi’s outside-edge

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W, W, W, W. Dominance, class, composure, and a million reasons to smile. MI Emirates have been everything we asked for, and more. We’re into the second half of the tournament, and we are on a mission to not lose steam. Much like our buildups for our earlier games, let’s just state it: every game has produced a new hero with everyone playing crucial supporting acts. It’s the hallmark of a team in solid form, and let’s just do everything in our powers to maintain our onfield juggernaut.&nbsp;&nbsp;What we do need to be wary of, is a pretty desperate Desert Vipers side, who after three losses in their four games, would be inspired to turn things around. We are in their den, and Dubai International Cricket Stadium is the only stadium where we haven’t won a game yet. It’s time we correct that as well!This is also the first time these two teams are meeting in this season’s ILT20. The head-to-head record stands at 1-1, with the Desert Vipers having won by seven wickets in the first game of the 2023 season, before MI Emirates bounced back in typical style with a 157-run win, thanks to a 19-ball fifty by Kieron Pollard, and the ever-reliable Muhammad Waseem blasting his way to a 44-ball 86.&nbsp;What: Desert Vipers vs MI EmiratesWhen: January 30, 2024 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm ISTWhere: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, DubaiWhat to expect: Dubai has produced runfests, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have another one when these two sides square off. If you happen to be in the stands, keep your helmets handy.&nbsp;

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Match 6 | DVvMIE Preview: More on the wishlist: Five wins in a row!

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W, W, W, W. What more do you want as a coach. And the MI Emirates Assistant Coach, Vinay Kumar is no different. He walked in for the post-match press conference with a big smile, and here we bring you excerpts from what he said.&nbsp;Thoughts at the halfway stageAfter seeing the first innings, we assessed that it was a very good wicket. It was a fresh wicket. We felt that in an afternoon game, 180 was a par score and the boys took the responsibility to finish the game.&nbsp;On the form of the two openersThat’s what they normally do. Kusal (Perera) plays freely and (Muhammad) Waseem as well is a very dangerous batsman in the first six overs. We have given them the freedom to go out there and express themselves. We got 50 runs in the first 17 balls, and that set the tone for us. It became much easier.&nbsp;On using Kusal Perera as the super sub optionIt is giving you an extra advantage as a team, by assessing the conditions and situation of the game, you can get an extra batsman or a bowler. We have a bowling option, Waqar (Salemkheil) and a batting option as well. Having Kusal and Waqar are a great advantage for us. If there is help in the wicket, we go for Waqar, else we go for Kusal.&nbsp;Mood in the camp after winning four games in a rowIt’s great. Definitely, we want to win as many games as possible to reach the playoffs. The mindset, approach of the seniors and juniors is outstanding. That is what you want as a coach, and I am really happy with the way things have turned out.&nbsp;

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“We have given Kusal and Waseem all the freedom”: Assistant Coach, Vinay Kumar

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Yeah, 4-0 it is! In case you were a tad uncomfortable at the halfway stage and thought 189 would be too steep a mountain to climb, worry not, for the MI Emirates batters have romped home. And they’ve done it without breaking a sweat. Seriously. Comprehensive, clinical, clean, okay, we’re just wasting adjectives.Waseem, Perera milk 89 runs off the powerplayOver 1: 15 runsOver 2: 17 runs&nbsp;Over 3: 19 runs&nbsp;Over 4: 8 runs&nbsp;Over 5: 16 runs&nbsp;Over 6: 14 runsBoth our openers went on a rampage, with Kusal Perera starting off straight in fifth gear to smash a 27-ball 56. Muhammad Waseem, although explosive, was a tad measured, making sure he stayed right until the end, amidst Nicky P’s cameo as well, to finish with a 61-ball 87.&nbsp;Farooqi’s turn to shine with the ballAs we said in the match preview, our bowlers are taking turns to stand out with the ball. It was Fazalhaq Farooqi on this occasion, getting an early wicket of Joe Clarke in the powerplay, and then coming back well at the death to pull things back with a couple of wickets as Andre Russell was threatening to take the AD Knight Riders beyond 200!&nbsp;Four wins on the trot, and strengthened as the table-toppers!We’re on a roll, and it’s gaining momentum. With eight points and a NRR of +2.15, we have steered clear of the pack in the first half of the ILT20 2024. With one eye firmly on securing a top-two spot in the play-offs and the other firmly on the road ahead, we are in for a super ride!

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