We could have spent the last two evenings number-crunching and thinking about various scenarios. However, it’s best to keep it simple and we are aiming not merely at consolidating our play-off spot, we are actually aiming at making it to the top two of the competition.

This gives us, what commentators like to call ‘another bite at the cherry’ and guarantees our berth in the Champions League. More importantly, it gives us good momentum going into the play-offs.

As captain, I was very satisfied with the way the boys approached the game against Pune Warriors. They were fired up and all the bowlers used the conditions magnificently. It was a really critical game for us, but we succeeded in playing for the sake of winning rather than for making progress in the points table. That’s my most important goal on Sunday as well.

Very often, in tournaments, there is a danger of just jockeying for positions. The main aim must always be to win because the points table looks after itself if you are on the right side of the result often enough.

Our team is raring to go and while there is a talk about Mumbai Indians being under some pressure, I am not worried about their mindset. Clearly Mumbai are a quality side and my aim is to ensure that we are at our very best against them. There has been some criticism of our fielding but I am pretty satisfied with our performance in all three departments of the game.

I was also very happy with my own personal performance in the last game. My role was to be there till the end and I was thrilled to accomplish that.

Opening is always a great bonus but it is the team that is paramount. Jacques Kallis is fully fit and we feel that he is best suited for the opening role.

This is also the last home game for us and it is a really huge incentive for the team to do well. It’s a Sunday and I am sure there will be a huge crowd cheering us on.

The cliches about the crowd at Eden Gardens being a huge factor are actually true. Speaking for myself, I have been overwhelmed by the affection I have received everywhere I have gone. I plan to come back to the city even when cricket does not bring me here.

If the international itinerary permits I would love to come here for the Pujas and celebrate the festival with the rest of Calcutta. In a matter of six weeks, Calcutta has effortlessly converted me from a Dilliwala to a Bengali boy. It’s been a season of poriborton for me as well!