“They’re also trying to do their best. If I knew that it was something to do with that, I would have spoken to them. But the commitment and effort they’re putting in is unbelievable. So I was quite determined. With Ro [Rohit Sharma] getting injured and coming back to bat the way he did, it sums it up. I mean, the core group is quite valuable for us. You can’t just keep changing.
“We went with the trust and confidence we had in them. And then it is what it is. Like I said, it’s difficult for me to go beyond that. They had a really good World Cup, winning it and all that. So I think it’s just that, as a unit, we haven’t been good enough,” said Jayawardene after MI were eliminated.
MI are not used to being in the position they find themselves in this season, and the real challenge now will be to avoid another tenth-placed finish. If they do not bring in some much-needed changes, a third wooden-spoon finish in the last five seasons is very much on the cards.