Sai Kishore's decision to bat backfired with TN reduced to 42 for 5 in the first session. They were eventually bowled out for 146. Mumbai then piled on 378 in their first dig before TN were bundled out for 162 to bow out of the Ranji Trophy inside three days.

"When I saw that they had played on a different pitch in the quarter-final and what wicket they gave, (that) moment I realised that this is a seaming-friendly wicket and it was going to be a very tough match, we would have to play really well to win this game," Kulkarni said.

"Ultimately he [Sai Kishore] is the boss. I can give my feedback and inputs (on) the kind of wickets and Mumbai's mindset also."

"We were mentally prepared that whoever wins the toss would bowl first," he said. "We knew that we would bowl first. The moment they (TV broadcast) said we would bat first, whatever you say, it goes in the batsmen's minds. That first half an hour (before play) got in the batsmen's minds.

"When you get into the first over, third (fourth) ball, your international player gets out and you see the situation in the first hour, we lost the game and the plot. It was very difficult to come back."

Kulkarni said that Mumbai have the best lower-order in the Indian domestic circuit. "They are the best Nos. 9 and 10 in India. I told this in the dressing room that their batting starts after No. 6. I can take the horse to the water, (but) the horse has to drink."