Navi Mumbai, Jan 16 (NationPress) Gujarat Giants' all-rounder Sophie Devine acknowledged that her team fell short on the field during their close encounter with the reigning champions Mumbai Indians, but she remains optimistic about the diverse performances emerging from different players, labeling this as a significant positive for the team.

Currently holding four points, the Ashleigh Gardner-led Gujarat Giants are eager for a victory after experiencing their first loss of the season against MI.

"It was one of those matches where we definitely didn’t perform at our best, especially in the field. However, to think that we pushed the Mumbai Indians so closely and almost crossed the line in that final over, there are still ample positives," Sophie mentioned in a conversation with the broadcasters, just before the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the DY Patil Stadium on Friday.

"Our batting has been exceptional. We discussed it post-game - we’re capable of scoring substantial totals, but they’ve all been achieved in various ways. We have demonstrated real strengths at different stages, and different players consistently step up, which is a huge positive," she added.

She noted the challenge of curbing opposition line-ups on high-scoring pitches is significant, but emphasized that the GG squad is building confidence. "With the ball, we understand it will always be difficult on such wickets with quick outfields and short boundaries,” she said.

“We must continue finding ways to restrict teams. While it would be nice to have an easier match, we know that won't be the case against RCB tonight. It greatly enhances confidence within the group," she continued.

Devine highlighted Anushka Sharma's steadiness at number three in the opening match as a boost for the squad and shared her enjoyment of partnering with fellow Australian batter Beth Mooney at the crease. "Even in the first game, Anushka’s approach at No.3 instilled confidence in other players, showing them they are capable of performing at this level by backing their strengths.

“I’m enjoying batting with Moons (Mooney) again. Having played a lot of cricket with her at the Perth Scorchers, having a familiar partner at the other end brings a lot of confidence and calmness to my game," she stated.

Looking forward, Sophie emphasized the necessity of execution to secure victories, despite the abundance of analytics available. "That’s one of the fantastic aspects of the support and resources at our disposal. The analysis of every player and team is literally at your fingertips.

“We’re fortunate to have excellent analysts on board, but ultimately, you can have all the strategies in the world, and if you don’t execute them on the field, they hold little value," she concluded.