Ishan Kishan after keeping wickets for 20 overs, realised the chase of 180 won’t be easy for Sunrisers Hyderabad on this Chepauk track. Once he walked out to bat at No. 3, the wicketkeeper-batter wanted to bat till the last over.
Kishan was dismissed when SRH needed six to win off nine balls but he had done the job by playing a match-winning knock of 70 off 47 balls. Riding on his knock, SRH beat Chennai Super Kings by five wickets to make it to the playoffs.
“When I was keeping, I felt the wicket was not easy — especially when the spinners were bowling, and the slower balls working really well. I had to just play till the last over. It was just about being there and believing in yourself. You cannot doubt yourself at any time. Being in the middle, it’s difficult for the bowlers to get it right every time.
“We both (me and Heinrich Klaasen) were just playing our shots,” he added when asked what had the both planned in their 75-run stand for the third wicket that set up the win.
Klaasen, who started watchfully before he decided to switch to his natural game, also admitted that it was a difficult wicket.
“The first couple of balls I blocked, and I said ‘no, I can’t play like this’. The pitch stayed low. It was a little bit up and down. It’s not an easy place to play cricket,” said Klaasen who took the Orange Cap after scoring 555 runs from 13 matches.
SRH captain Pat Cummins, who took three wickets for 28 in the CSK innings, lauded Kishan and Klaasen for setting up the win on a “tough wicket”.
“(It was a) pretty tough wicket to bat. That partnership (between Kishan and Klaasen) was really tough. They just chose their match-ups, and played some ridiculous shots.
“When we were bowling, we felt like it was staying a bit low. (It) felt like it came down to one or two partnerships, felt like it was round about par. Can’t give yourself a better chance than what we have,” Cummins said.
Talking about the play-offs, he said, “The real stuff starts now. There’s always a few things (to work on). Overall, really happy.”
Meanwhile, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was proud of the team’s efforts and said everyone gave their heart out as the side did much better than last year.
“(It was a) good game of cricket. We were in the game until the second last over. Good T20 pitch. Didn’t change over the course of the game. Just missed out on a few. Cashing in on the opportunity (could have been done).
“Still, given the team we had, and limited squad, I’m still proud and feel we did well. Lot of positives, to be honest. Sanju (Samson) has been playing really well for us. Missed out on a few key players. Obviously depends on a lot of factors.” Gaikwad said.
