Lendl Simmons credits IPL experience for his match-winning performance

Lendl Simmons shook the Indians after he smashed a match-winning knock of 82 from 51 balls to enable West Indies defeat hosts in the all-important semi-final clash at the Wankhede Stadium.

Simmons played one the best knocks of his career under tremendous pressure. He had come in after the Calypso Kings had lost two early wickets after beginning their quest of chasing the mammoth 193 runs target. The right-hander became a hero in the just a matter of 20 overs

“I had a clear mind about what I wanted to do. The game was early, we had a target to chase, so I already had a plan. Before the game, I was a bit nervous. I was under a bit of pressure from the guys, saying I was came here for a job. But, it was good. We had a target to chase and we got there,” a satisfied Simmons said after guiding his team to a 7-wicket victory with an unbeaten 51-ball 82.

Simmons admitted that playing at his ‘home ground’ Mumbai eased his nervousness. Actually, Simmons was not in the original squad and was included mid-way through West Indies’ campaign. He says that he was suppose to leave for Mumbai to prepare with his Mumbai franchise Mumbai Indians for the upcoming season which will commence soon.

“I got the news after the Afghanistan game. I was to leave Friday (April 1) to come to Mumbai to get ready for IPL. But I saw it as an opportunity to get ready for IPL as well. Seeing this is my home ground as well, I know the conditions, and think I read it well,” he added.

Luck played its part too. Simmons was caught twice during his match-winning knock, on 18 and 50, but unfortunately for India, bowlers R Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah were found to have overstepped. Simmons believed the two lives turned the match in their favor.

“I think that it was swinging our way. It would have been different if I was out, and a new batsman came in. You never know what could’ve happened.”

Simmons also stated that playing in IPL, has had a positive impact on his game. In his two-year stint with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians, Lendl Simmons has amassed 934 runs, including a hundred and nine other scores of 50-plus. A majority of his 21 games have been at the Wankhede in Mumbai, the venue for West Indies’s 2016 ICC World Twenty20 semifinal encounter against hosts India, on Thursday (March 31). That he knew the conditions better than probably any other Caribbean player guaranteed an automatic selection into the playing XI once he was flown in to replace injured Andre Fletcher.

“Obviously, it has made me a better player. The amount of games you have in IPL, you’re constantly playing cricket and after playing IPL on pitches, you get a gist of different strokes and different situations of the game. And playing with guys like (Virat) Kohli and (MS) Dhoni and seeing how they read the game, it helps me analyze when I’m in that situation,” Simmons noted.

Simmons also acknowledged the contribution of Johnson Charles, with whom he shared a 97-run third -wicket stand that turned the game on its head.

“He took a lot of pressure off me with boundaries. He read the conditions well, as well. I think he batted perfectly in the situations.”

Despite all the luck favoring him and comfortable run scoring, Simmons said that he did not wished to ease out thinking the match was under control.

“At no point did I think it was under control because you never know. But the bowling was suspect, I think. They had Nehra and Bumrah, those two fast bowlers, but not express pace. I think that every one of the players are match-winners in our team… We have a lot of batting power. We back ourselves to chase any total,” he summed up.

Check out how the Calypso Kings celebrated their win: Watch: West Indies players do the ‘champion’ dance in team hotel