Suryakumar did not field for MI in its first match of the season against Kolkata Knight Riders and scored an 8-ball 16 during a brief stay in the middle as the hosts hammered KKR by 6 wickets to record its highest successful run chase in IPL history here on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope we don\u2019t create unwanted stories (here), the camp is happy. He had an extra couple of days (off that) he wanted,\u201d Jayawardene told reporters after he was asked why like former India and MI skipper Rohit Sharma last season, Suryakumar was played as an impact substitute.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had a little tight groin and he was doing fielding and all that. But I knew I had another five days from this game to the other. I just wanted to give him that extra bit of time. He was even keen at the end to go (and field) for three-four overs. But I said, no, (it\u2019s) just fine\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo please don\u2019t create any stories. It\u2019s just that I have to take precautions. These are very valuable players for me to have them going throughout the season. These are calculated decisions that I and the management make and there is nothing beyond that,\u201d Jayawardene said.<\/p>\n
Jayawardene was pleased that Mumbai Indians finally ended its winless run in opening matches of the IPL. Rohit (78) and Ryan Rickelton (81) put on a 148-run opening stand in chase of 221 after Shardul Thakur (3\/39) impressed on a docile wicket.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it is brilliant. It was a good (batting) wicket. When they got to 220, I thought we were a bit poor on execution. We could have probably (not given) 20 runs extra. But the way Ro (Rohit) and Ryan batted, it was exquisite to watch,\u201d Jayawardene said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was, again, tactical, because for us to use Allah (AM Ghazanfar), if you\u2019re using Hardik (Pandya) as well up front, then can\u2019t have too many new ball bowlers,\u201d the former Sri Lankan skipper said on Thakur\u2019s exploits.<\/p>\n