Mumbai Indians have unearthed yet another match-winner in this edition of the Indian Premier League as Akash Madhwal scripted history in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants at Chepauk to propel the five-time champions to Qualifier 2. 

After posting 182 runs in the first innings, Madhwal produced one of the most scintillating spells of fast bowling in the league to stun the Super Giants. The right-arm pacer scalped five wickets for five runs in 3.3 overs that, enabled Mumbai to thrash the opposition by 81 runs and secure their place for a clash against the Titans on Friday, May 26, in Ahmedabad. 

In the post-match press conference, the seamer shared his views on the wicket and his ability to nail the yorkers consistently at a very high speed. 

"The wicket at Chepauk was good for the pacers. As you saw, the ball was not gripping but skidding. I am a sling-type of a bowler, and I pitched my deliveries in hard lengths aiming for wickets," he said. 

"Through the tennis ball, I have only learnt how to bowl yorkers, and I use that in my bowling today. There is only one way of evading those deliveries."

"If the bowling lengths are pitched a bit high or low, it would give away boundary fours or sixes. Thus, I needed to bowl strong yorkers in tennis cricket and that is what I do today with a proper cricket ball," he added. 

The 29-year-old was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2019 but failed to create any impact before joining the Mumbai Indians in 2020 as a net bowler. 

"I have been with Uttarakhand Cricket Association ever since they got affiliated with the BCCI in 2018. In 2019, I was a net bowler with Royal Challengers Bangalore."

"Later on, I joined Mumbai Indians and started out as a net bowler again, but I am getting the opportunity to play in the team and trying my best to fulfil the responsibilities given to me by the team. 

"I am not Bumrah's replacement, but I'm trying my best to do what I can. Whatever opportunities come your way, you should grab it and make the most of it," he further added. 

Madhwal was also at the helm of Uttarakhand's T20 side, and the youngster believes captaincy helped him broaden his lenses and think about the team's point of view as well. 

"I had to balance the workload, but I felt happy to grab that opportunity. Because, as a bowler, I had a specific way of analysing the game, but when I became a captain, my vision to analyse the pitch, and the conditions of the game was broadened," he concluded.