Mumbai, Mar 24: Abhishek Nayar slammed 79 off 41 balls to help Mumbai set Tamil Nadu a 194-run target. The southpaw who had come into the season after recovering from various injuries has been in good form since and played important knocks in Mumbai’s quests for various domestic trophies throughout the season. His knock today helped Mumbai reach the semi-final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Excerpts from his post-match media interaction:

On his knock

I think [in] any quarter-final it is important to get good runs and the team won so obviously it is good that your knock has helped the team win so it is satisfying.

On the dropped catch

I think that though it is a good track to bat on, 190 [odd runs] is a big target and I feel once you have lost wickets it is difficult to come back in the game. I think they played well to keep themselves in the hunt but I think [...] catches do get dropped [...] it is part of the game. Overall we bowled really well and we kept our nerves so that was very helpful for us.

On his form

So far so good. I wouldn’t really like to talk about my form. I am just happy that things are going my way. I have had a tough last two years. I am just focusing on doing well in every game and I am enjoying my cricket and hopefully all my innings help my team win which is most satisfying for me.

On his India aspirations ahead of the World T20

It is too farfetched for me to think about anything. The furthest I am thinking is about winning this tournament and nothing more than that. If I have to play for India I think I will. I have been performing pretty well, I am just hoping to continue that and whatever has to happen besides that will just happen. [...]

On the importance of this tournament ahead of IPL 2012

Eventually it is a state championship so I think any tournament where you [are] representing a state at the first-class level means it is an important tournament. It is not like practice for us; it is about winning this tournament and doing well in it as a team. But, it is a good build-up to the IPL because it is the T20 format [...] but as of now the whole focus is on winning the tournament because that is how big as it gets.

On their plan ahead since Mumbai seniors have not won a trophy this season

[...]. We would love to win it; every team would love to win it. It is about playing good cricket every single day, play the semi-finals next. Hopefully we can comeback and be game ready when we enter the field next time.