‘Getting better with each passing day’
It was that kind of a day when runs were hard to come by and the batsmen had to toil hard, dig in and work for each and every run. Ask Gujarat Lions’ Aaron Finch about it who scored a challenging half century or their top order who had the likes of Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith who couldn’t score off the first two overs of the match. They hardly got going and the Lions ended up with just 126 on the board.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s run-chase too wasn’t very swift. David Warner did hit a few to get the team off to a steady start but after he departed in the fourth over, the going got tough for the home side. There was one man though who guided the chase with a lot of sensibility and stayed there right till the end to see his team cross the finishing line. Shikhar Dhawan scored a ‘sensible’ unbeaten 47 and helped Sunrisers register their second win in a row. At the end of the day when bowlers ruled the roost, Shikhar was happy his bat had done the talking. He had worked hard for it and was feeling confident of his willow talk in the games ahead. Here’s Shikhar opening up about his form, his chemistry with opening partner David Warner and the calming presence of Yuvraj Singh. Here’s more.
A hard fought innings for you, but good time to get a string of good scores especially with the second stage of the tournament starting?
Since the tournament has started, I haven’t had a very good run with the bat. But that was in the initial stages of the tournament. After that I have been scoring well in the last three matches with a half century to go along with it. With the second phase of the tournament starting, it is always good that you get some good runs under your belt. It becomes easier as a batsman to perform and dominate bowling attacks. I am happy that I got the runs but most importantly my motive was to win the match for my side. My plan was to stay there till the end and churn out a victory for the team. It worked just that way and I am happy that I could put up a meaningful performance for the side.
Everyone hopes for Shikhar Dhawan to fire which you have been doing of late. How are you feeling about your own batting?
I am feeling good. I am getting better with each passing day. It feels good that your hardwork pays off. It is always rewarding to get the desired results especially when you have worked so hard behind the scenes to achieve it. Also, I have received a lot of support from the team management and they have worked hard with me. They have always backed me and they know that I can win matches for the side. It gives me immense happiness to see that kind of backing. We got a break for four to five days but I did go for a couple of net sessions because I wanted to make the most of the break at hand. Today, it feels a lot better that I could stand my ground at one end when wickets were falling at the other end. It was my goal to take the team through and I am happy to have achieved it.
You said you were struggling in the beginning of the tournament. At those times does it help to have an opening partner like David Warner who is in great form?
I would like to credit David Warner. He is in such great form that I have been able to take my time in the middle to get set and get those scores for the team. That level of confidence brushes off on me and it creates a sense of ease for me.
There is no case of playing rash shots or the need to push hard because the guy at the other end is playing his role to perfection. There are certain targets that we have as an opening pair and in the process of fulfilling it we even have to take risks at times. But when there is someone like Warner at the other end who is thrashing every bowler from the opposition, my risk taking factor becomes less.
We both play according to the team’s needs. There have been times when the team has demanded a supporting role off me and I am glad that I have been able to do that. My role differs from game to game according to the situation and the way my partnership with Warner is going on. It is going good at the moment.