158 would have been enough if dew hadn't played a part: Ravichandran Ashwin

Rajasthan Royals (RR) spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reckons that a score of 158 would have been enough had the dew not played a massive role. In the end, Mumbai Indians (MI) went on to win the game by five wickets with four balls remaining.

It was Ashwin's cameo of 21 off 9 with the bat that eventually took RR past 150 and with the ball, he got the big wicket of Rohit Sharma for just two. the off-spinner reckons, his side were about 10-15 runs short in the end.

"I think if dew hadn't played a part, that score would've been enough, but there was heavy dew, so felt it was 10-15 runs short," Ashwin said at the post-match press conference. 

"158 was a competitive score. It was always going to be about how well we started. In fact, we had a very good powerplay and got one wicket more than what Mumbai had at the front. 

"So I thought it was a reasonably good score to fight and we pretty much did well with whatever scores we had this season. I thought the wicket was a little sticky to begin with. In T20 cricket, if it's going to be sticky and it's going to be the same way, you just have to hope dew doesn't kick in.

"It was unfortunate today. I don't know how this works, whether it's the humidity factor, or the spray whether it works or not or what it was, but it was wet all over the place today. 

"And it makes a massive difference; good deliveries tend to get overpitched and stuff like that for the spinner. Also, usage of the spinner cannot be at the back of the innings. 

"So all these facets can't be kicking in when dew comes in so it's a combination. We put up a decent score. Could've had 10-15 more, but these things happen in a 14-game IPL."

Daryl Mitchell gave away 20 runs in the seventh over as Suryakymar Yadav and Tilak Varma ripped into him on their way to a match-winning partnership. Ashwin backed the decision to bowl Mitchell as it gives them more bowling options at the back end of the innings.

"Last game too Daryl Mitchell had bowled that 7th over. It is our strategy of that sixth bowler and he had bowled well the previous time," the off-spinner said. 

"But today it didn't work, but it happens in the game. If we use a sixth bowler upfront, then we have options in the back end. That's the thought process. Sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn't, but that's how T20 cricket is.

"It's a 14-game competition. It's a long tournament for every team and when you're playing long competition, there are going to be days like these. 

"When we were playing against RCB at the Wankhede, it was a bit sticky to start off with, and we posted just about a par score. We would've been happier with a slightly higher score today, but that will happen. 

"We had utmost trust in the way our batting and bowling line-up is going about things. If we can keep up how we're going and what we're doing, we'll be more than happy going forward."

Despite the loss, RR still have a good chance of making it to the playoffs. They take on a struggling Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) next on Monday (May 2) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.