A proven "winning mentality" and seasoned campaigners such as Rohit Sharma can propel five-time champions Mumbai Indians to more IPL glory, head coach Mahela Jayawardene says.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Led by Hardik Pandya, Mumbai are two wins from the title after beating Gujarat Titans by 20 runs in Friday's eliminator.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They now meet Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on Sunday to decide who faces Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final on June 3.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mumbai started this IPL with four defeats in five matches before they won seven of their next eight to clinch a playoff berth.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They came fourth in the table to play the do-or-die playoff with Gujarat and after being beaten by them twice in the league stage, came up trumps when they needed it most.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"When you have a winning culture it is easier to try and have that same thing going through," Mahela said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Even when you get a new group, we still have a very experienced co-group within our ranks."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The former Sri Lanka captain added: "That winning mentality itself comes through from those senior players and having that experience, guys who have won trophies, does help."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rohit led Mumbai's batting charge with 81 and put on a blazing opening stand with Jonny Bairstow, who hit 47, in the team's 228-5.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On an evening at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh when dew made it tough for the bowlers to grip the wet ball, Mumbai's senior players including Jasprit Bumrah restricted Gujarat to 208-6.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mumbai are owned by Nita Ambani, wife of India's richest man, the Reliance Industries billionaire Mukesh Ambani.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The team are equal with Chennai Super Kings as the most successful in IPL history since the T20 tournament's inception in 2008.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Reputations and experience -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Bumrah took the key wicket of Washington Sundar when he bowled the left-hander with a yorker and returned figures of 1-27 in his four overs to choke Gujarat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Bumrah made a late entry this season after recovering from a career-threatening back injury and Mahela said his experience was invaluable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "There is definitely no concerns when he comes back because the reputation itself carries through and he was quite confident," Mahela said of the ace pace bowler.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "He had bowled few sessions, he was nailing those yorkers and all that. He is a massive asset for us, the experience that he carries through to the team and the situations that he has been bowling for us.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "Great to have him around the group."<\/p>\r\n\r\n Rohit, who recently retired from Test cricket along with Virat Kohli, hit his fourth half-century in a patchy season for the former Mumbai captain, who has scored 410 runs in 14 innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Rohit led Mumbai to all their five IPL titles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "Big games he does have a different gear that he plays, that's what experience does and you cannot replace that," said Mahela.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Next Mumbai face a Punjab side who were well beaten in the first qualifier by Bengaluru.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer said "we lost the battle but not the war" after they were bundled out for 101 and lost by eight wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n