No matter it was the first defeat of Rajasthan Royals but they succeeded to make Punjab struggle their way for the victory. Not a suprise that Ajinkya Rahane played with amazing partnership of 95 run with great batsman Shane Watson. Captain played his best on his second knock mean while Rahane was rising up the team and played a awesome knock of 74 runs. According to the talks of iplt20.com, the opening batsmen spoke about their constant hard work and how they shaped up the team with high aims.
Excerpts:
How were the batsmen decided for the Super Over?
Rahul bhai (Dravid), Paddy (Upton) and captain (Shane Watson) decided that the strong and big-hitters must be given the opportunity. I think the three batsmen we sent were perfect for the job and all three had the experience of playing in a situation like this. Last year too we had played in a Super Over, so we had an idea. But credit should be given to Mitchell Johnson as well for the way he bowled in a difficult situation.
Although RR lost, it was a hard fought game. You would be happy with the way runs are coming your way?
I think the kind of cricket we are playing the momentum is good and the team is in a good space. The way we are backing players and playing our cricket is good. In T20 an odd result doesn’t go your way; it is important that as we a team we play all the 40 overs with 100 percent commitment. We believe in commitment, result is the end thing; it is important to put in the full effort. Today we played good cricket overall, but maybe Kings XI played a little better and bowled better in the Super Over.
Given KXIP’s batting line-up what total were you looking to post?
We hadn’t really kept a target, the wicket was slow. The plan between Watson and me was not to focus on a target because when you try to set a target on a slow wicket you put yourself under pressure. I told him that if we maintained the same positive intent with which we were batting, through the 20 overs, then we would get 10-15 runs more than what we would aim at otherwise. If we set a target then we would be putting ourselves under pressure to achieve it. So we hadn’t gone in with setting a particular target.
Watson is back in the team and the way you both have put up opening stands for two games bodes well for the team?
I think we complement each other very well and we are enjoying each other’s batting. When he is playing the big shots my role is to take a single and give him the strike. Similarly if I am scoring then he would give me the strike. We focus on building a partnership and we know that both of us are batting in a good rhythm. In cricket, when you are in form, you should make the most of it. When the runs are not coming, only the batsman knows what kind of hard work is being put in and what sort of struggle he is facing. When I am in good form my intent is to score as big as I can for the team.
The way you are batting, you are shaping the innings, being an anchor for the side. Have you been specifically assigned such a role or have you taken it up on yourself to be in such a role?
In the first six overs my intent is to play good and positive cricket. After that if I am still batting, then our theory is that the batsmen who is set should play as long as possible and the others should bat around him. So after the first six overs I play the way I do, using the cricketing shots to get the odd boundary and keep the rotating the strike and the batsmen bat around me. But, this is how we would play even if there was someone else in my place. The others play attacking cricket around the set batsman. The opening partnerships that Watson and I have had in the last game and this one were very important (for laying the foundation). I want to just continue playing like this and be consistent.
What is the key to being consistent?
Just keep it simple, and stay grounded because it is small things that take you forward. I start from scratch in each innings and play as the situation demands. And off the field too I maintain the routines and processes.
You talked about improving all the time. What is it that you have done to make you a better T20 cricketer?
To be honest I try and play basic cricket. I know what my strengths are and I try and play to my strengths. The bowler is also going to commit a mistake at some point and if you are ready for that moment, then you can capitalise (on that). I haven’t changed anything much. There are different field positions and settings and I try to play accordingly. But I have tried to keep things as simple as possible.
How do you look back on the loss?
Winning and losing are part of the game but the way we are playing is more important. We had won five games on the trot and then lost this game which was very close. We have taken our lessons from this. It hasn’t lowered our confidence; we will look to dominate (in the coming matches).
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