Rohit Sharma admitted that he was lucky to reach 81 runs during the Mumbai Indians' victory over the Gujarat Titans in their Indian Premier League Eliminator.
Rohit was dropped twice, by Gerald Coetzee and Kusal Mendis, and went on to punish the Titans with an impressive knock to set up a tie with the Punjab Kings.
He reached his total from just 50 balls, plundering nine fours and four maximums as Mumbai posted 209 runs, the second-highest total in any play-off game in the IPL.
Rohit is second on the all-time run-scoring list in the competition's history, trailing only Virat Kohli, who has amassed 8,618 runs in 266 matches.Â
"I definitely would have liked to get more [fifties]. But today was a good day for us as a team," Rohit said.Â
"I do understand the importance of playing this Eliminator and going through this next step, taking that step forward.
"Again, a complete team performance, which we are really, really proud of."
Rohit also became only the second batter after Chris Gayle to hit 300 sixes overall in the IPL, while also sharing an 84-run partnership with Jonny Bairstow.Â
"To be honest, I've played all those shots in the game before and unfortunately, I found fielders," Rohit said.
"Somewhere down the line, you know, you've got to be lucky and today was that day for me. I got lucky. You know, those catches were dropped.
"But again, like I said, even after the drops, you still have to play well to get those runs.
"And that is what I was focusing on, how I can keep that momentum going, keep that tempo going, which was brilliant from our entire batting unit to get that score.
"And then, like I said, it was a good bowling effort as well."
Rohit also praised Bairstow, whose early fireworks had set the platform for Mumbai's 20-run win.
Bairstow, who had replaced Ryan Rickelton, marked his debut with 47 off 22 balls.Â
"I've watched him over the years being on the other side," Rohit said of Bairstow. "But it was nice to be on the same side and have a crack at it.
"We know the quality that he has; a lot of experience playing this format. And we know what he can do upfront with the bat. That is exactly what it did.
"It never looked like he was playing his first game for this franchise. You know, got settled in pretty well, took his chances and it came off. And it was a good start.
"We always look for that start. We got that start and we then obviously capitalised on it."
