NEWS
Follow UsPunjab Kings skipper Shikhar Dhawan heaped heavy praise on Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma after the two domestic batters helped them chase down a target of 200 against Gujarat Titans on April 4 (Thursday). This is now the sixth time Punjab have chased down 200 or more in the IPL, the most by any franchise.
Punjab lost Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh and Sam Curran inside eight overs and were 70/4 at one stage. Sikandar Raza wasted 16 deliveries for his 15, while Jitesh Sharma (8-ball 16) chipped in with a decent cameo. Punjab still needed 47 runs from the last four overs and that’s when Shashank and Ashutosh stepped up.
Ashutosh whacked 31 off 17 on his debut, while Shashank remained unbeaten on 61 off 29. Punjab got to the target with a delivery to spare. “It was an amazing game - very, very close. I'm glad the boys did the job. The plan was to give a good start but I got out unfortunately. We were around 60 runs at the end of the powerplay. We kept building partnerships and Shashank came in and played really well,” said Dhawan.
“The way Shashank came in and hit those sixes, it was brilliant. The way he hit the ball, it looked effortless. He started from No.7 and is now showing his positive mindset. He is playing in the IPL after a long time and he played so well. I will also mention about Ashutosh. He came in and played a good knock under pressure.”
Having generally batted down the order, Shashank was promoted to No.5 tonight and he responded in some style. “I'm still trying to sink in. I envision these things, but turning them into reality feels great. I play cricketing shots. I bat at No.7, but today I batted at No.5,” said Shashank.
“The bounce was very good. Both teams scored 200, so the wicket was fantastic. I react to the ball and play my shots accordingly. I couldn't get many matches before, last to last year for SRH, but the management and coaching staff here have really backed me. I was very confident.”
Gujarat skipper Shubman Gill, who smashed 89* off 48 deliveries in the first innings, said they had enough runs on the board but a couple of dropped catches cost them the game. “I think a couple of catches went down, never easy (to win) when you drop catches,” said Gill after GT’s second defeat of the season.
“Bowlers did a decent job, when the ball is coming on to the bat, it's difficult to defend, I wouldn't say we were short (on runs). The new ball was doing something. 200 was good enough. We were right in the game till about the 15th over. always under pressure with dropped catches.”
