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Very rarely at the halfway mark do you get two teams with exactly the same campaign. This is one such time. MI Emirates and the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders both started off with a loss, won the second, lost the third and have now won the fourth with ease.&nbsp;They’re set to clash at home, our shared home in Abu Dhabi in the first of back-to-back games. It’s a wonderful rivalry this where we enjoy the upper hand. It’s the perfect time for us to gain some momentum in the tournament as we head into the second half.&nbsp;&nbsp;What: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates&nbsp;When: January 21, 2025 | 18:30 GST, 20:00 ISTWhere: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp;What to expect: This is a chasing ground. Also, this should be fun battle of the West Indians with Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph on the MI Emirates side squaring off against Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder. There’s always spice when such bragging rights are at stake.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Match 5 | ADKRvMIE preview: Both teams with L,W,L,W campaigns looking to break the jinx

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He fought, and then had fun while he conquered this chase. Tom Banton, after turning his innings around and putting on that fine show, was at the post-match press-conference. Excerpts..&nbsp;Thoughts on his inningsThe first 25 balls, I did find tough. In the past I probably would have given it away, but now I feel I have got the responsibility. Nicholas Pooran speaks a lot about that to take it deep if it is your day. In the first ten balls or so, I was still on nought. It’s funny how cricket can change so quickly. I gave myself a chance and it came off.&nbsp;On the conversation with Kusal Mendis in the last overHe said, ‘you are two hits away’. I told him you’re too kind. But I told him at one point to finish this off quickly. Luckily I had two balls where I hit two sixes which was a great feeling. It’s a special day and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.Whether he rates this as his best inningsI’d probably say so. I just want to contribute to the team wherever I am playing. I never say it is easy. Cricket is such a funny game. I was struggling at the start of my innings. I just told myself to stay calm. You are 2-3 balls from getting to a strike rate of 100 and you can go from there. We had one win in three and we had to win.&nbsp;Whether he’s been changing his batting approachI don’t think too far into that stuff. My job is to push pressure on the bowlers and score as quickly as I can, look to take my matchups when I can. It was a great day for me. We have to move on now and get ready for the next game.&nbsp;On facing Tim Southee and Adam MilneTim Southee and Adam Milne are probably two of the greatest bowlers the game has ever seen. Adam Milne bowled superbly upfront. You have to respect good bowling when there are world class bowlers. They are not going to put it on a plate for you. I kind of tried but it didn’t come off, but it was a good day.&nbsp;

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“Probably would have given it away in the past”: Banton on being 0 off 9 to getting 101 off 55

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Paras Mhambrey, Bowling Coach has a nice ring to it. He’s no stranger to the #OneFamily, having been an integral part of the Mumbai Indians coaching setup from 2010-2017. He’s back in 2025 after stints with the National Cricket Academy in India and of course, the Indian Bowling Coach in the Rahul David-led regime that saw Rohit Sharma and Co. lift the T20 World Cup after sixteen long years.&nbsp;He’s back in the Blue and Gold, and while we might have to wait a few more months to see him at the Wankhede chalking out plans of bringing home IPL title #6, he’s here in the UAE, as the Bowling Coach of MI Emirates, indulging in an exclusive chat with miemirates.com. Excerpts..&nbsp;&nbsp;Back in the Blue and Gold family after eight years! Could you put your finger on a couple of moments or memories from your days in the MI setup that still make you smile?A lot of good memories. In 2010, in my first season with MI even though we didn’t cross the line, we qualified for the final for the first time. The level at which we played gave a lot of personal satisfaction. Just that one Final shouldn’t define the way we played. The semis was a tough game, overcoming that hurdle. In the final, you had Sachin Tendulkar who had stitches in his webbing, he couldn’t hold a bat. So many good memories of that game. The first year was special, getting a feel of the franchise, the IPL, was very special.&nbsp;&nbsp;You’re coming off a very successful stint with the Indian team which ended in the World Cup win. Having had the time to reflect now, what would be the proudest moments in that tenure?We got that T20 World Cup in the West Indies and we partied over there, but when we landed in India, that’s when it hit us. That’s when we realized what it meant to the people. When we landed at the airport, the crowd out there, the way everyone was welcomed was amazing. Then we went on a drive from Marine Drive to Wankhede. It was phenomenal. It showed what it meant to the people of our country. To be able to live that moment and contribute to the dreams of a billion people was special. The distance must have been just 200 meters, but it took us two hours. We could see lakhs of people. It was a very special moment.&nbsp; &nbsp;Maybe I’ll go back a little bit. For me, in all the years as Coach, we won against Australia and England, and those are special victories, but for me, it is the 2023 50-over World Cup. Even though we didn’t win the final, the way we played from the first game to the final, everyone contributed. It was a team decision on how we wanted to approach the World Cup, led by the captain and everyone putting themselves on the line. It was fabulous even though we didn’t win the World Cup. It was a special memory purely for the environment in the team, the challenges we faced and the way we overcame that. After the final, when I walked into the dressing room and saw the faces, I could see they were all physically and mentally drained.&nbsp;&nbsp;At MI Emirates now, you’re set to join hands with Robin Singh, whom you’ve worked with as a Coach in the past and Vinay Kumar, whom you’ve worked with in the past as a player. A word reuniting with the 2017 MI winning cast.&nbsp;I go back a long way with Robin. When I came into my first year in the IPL, Robin was there. He is very passionate about the game. You can make out his involvement from the conversations. It’s nice getting back. As a player, Vinay has given everything for his franchise. That’s the respect he commands for just the way he went about. We share a great atmosphere in the team, in the setup, the communications are good. There is respect for everyone and everyone gives everyone space.&nbsp; &nbsp;You were around when Bumrah came into the MI setup as a young raw talent. You worked closely with him in his starting days at MI and then saw his growth into becoming a match-winner as the Bowling Coach with the Indian team. What do you think makes him the best in the world?&nbsp;I think if you just look back at the journey he’s had, it’s a phenomenal journey. As a rookie he was picked up at the IPL and he wasn’t known at all. That’s where the MI setup comes in, in terms of support staff and the scouts having an eye for a player like this. John (Wright) was the guy who had a look at him and suggested his name to the management. It speaks a lot about the team that works here. Obviously the skills were there. It is important for a young guy coming in, it is important to give him the best of physios, trainers, having the right people to guide you, senior players.&nbsp;You have to give credit to Bumrah in the way he has evolved as a player. He is so focused. He is aware of his game. He has a constant need to improve. That’s why he is number one. He’s the best in the world in all three formats. Don’t judge players by the number of games he’s played, but also on the impact he’s made in all three formats. Very few bowlers in the world create that impact in all three formats. His numbers in T20s, ODIs and Tests speak about his work ethics. He’s one of the few guys who enjoys playing Test cricket. He just doesn’t leave the ball. He has taken a liking to captaining the team as well, and I am very happy about it. He doesn’t just focus on his game, he is very inclusive. He understands his role is also about grooming, assisting others, which he has taken to very nicely. Others in the team recognize and acknowledge that. For me that is good to see. It’s not just winning games for the country. It’s about leaving an impact on everyone.&nbsp;&nbsp;And how much better do you think he can get from here?I don’t think he’s a guy who looks at numbers. Just being able to win and contribute to the team’s success is what he’ll be looking at. Fingers crossed, I just hope his body supports him here. His action saps up a lot of energy. My worry will always be the longevity of this individual. We have got to take care of him. It is easy to get away from the goal. He needs to be around for Indian cricket. I’m sure he wants to play, but we have to be smart on how to use him. On a personal front, I think he would just want to be doing what he is doing. You look at him on the ground and you know he is enjoying himself. When you sit in the dressing room thinking, ‘oh this is what he should be doing now’, invariably, he does exactly that the next ball. You understand he is thinking. He is reading the batters very well. You feel one of the fielders should have been deeper, boom, he moves it. Super fun sitting outside and watching him. It is a treat. I just hope I get to watch it for the next five years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Personally, you’ve been a coach at the NCA, the under-19s, the national team, and now in a franchise like MI Emirates where you have a mix of youth and experience from all over the world. What are some of the coaching mantras you swear by?At that level, it is more about understanding what their requirement is, how I can be helpful to them. Because obviously, the experience is there, the skill is there. It is just one odd thing that you could change. It is just having that conversation with them and telling them, ‘see this is my observation, are you happy with what you’re doing’ and stuff. Just giving them that suggestion. Because a player is so engrossed in the game at that moment, small things get overlooked. That’s my job then to kind of point it out and address it with them. It’s important for me to keep pushing them and honestly suggest things. It’s important to create that trust with the player. He knows my intent is the team’s and the player’s benefit.&nbsp;&nbsp;With nine overseas players allowed in the playing XI, how different is coaching at MI Emirates in the ILT20 compared to other leagues?&nbsp;You need to understand that every individual out here has come in from a different dressing room and that all of them have been playing different roles for their teams. It will take a while. You can’t go in and stamp someone’s role. It is important for me to understand each individual and create a link amongst us. We need to understand how everyone fits in. At MI Emirates, we have a mix of quality fast bowlers and mystery spinners as well. It’s good as a captain to have those options available. You can also feel what MI Emirates means for the players. The credit has to go to the guys working in the team to feel that environment.&nbsp;

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Interview | Bowling Coach Paras Mhambrey on ILT20, Bumrah, the 2010 IPL season, T20 World Cup…

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We were in for a Sharjah treat, an absolute batting masterclass. Tom Banton, who’d already lit up the tournament a couple of games earlier, was in the mood to blaze it this afternoon in the desert. Let’s relive proceedings..&nbsp;The genius that is Fazalhaq FarooqiOn a pitch that is a batting beauty, in an innings where the rest of the bowlers are going at a minimum of nine run an over, this guy goes at six. And takes four wickets doing so. He struck in the second over of the match, dismissing the dangerous Jason Roy, then came back later to get rid of Johnson Charles who was batting on 59, before blowing over a couple more in the 18th over, ensuring that the Sharjah Warriorz ended up with a seemingly under-par 176 in their 20 overs.&nbsp;Kusal Perera Joins the partyThe signs were pretty evident in the previous game of him having found his rhythm. And in the company of Tom Banton here, he was happy to play second fiddle, taking his time and playing some risk-free cricket in his 42-ball knock of 56.&nbsp;Oh Tom Banton, the showman!102 runs | 55 balls | 10 fours | 6 sixes. And he got MI Emirates home in a canter. There was a point when getting to a century seemed a tad difficult, but he was simply in the zone, belting out sixes for fun, and with 13 runs left for victory, he found both with a couple of maximums off Dilshan Madushanka. To think he took nine balls to get off the mark!&nbsp;So we’ve jumped up to second spot on the points table with this win. Oh, it feels great. Now to win two on the bounce as we head home to Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;

“Probably would have given it away in the past”: Banton on being 0 off 9 to getting 101 off 55

By MI Emirates Media

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