Page 44 - The Indian EYE 041224

SPORTS APRIL 12, 2024 | The Indian Eye 44

IPL 2024

How new and young players

making the season exciting with

their fiery performances

Following his fiery knock against Gujarat Titans (GT) Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Ashutosh Sharma

says he had confidence since the coaches and staff believed in him

OUR BUREAU ma. Shashank revealed the conver-
sation he had with the management
Chennai/Mumbai/Hyderabad
and the instructions that he received
unjab Kings (PBKS) uncapped before pulling off the incredible
batter Shashank Singh heaped chase.
Ppraise on skipper Shikhar “It was a good opportunity for
Dhawan for backing him and helping me. I have always believed that these
him improve different aspects of his are the games where you can make
game. In the ongoing Indian Premier a good contribution to your team. So
League (IPL) 2024, during the PBKS when I was going out to bat, Sanjay
clash against the Gujarat Titans, the sir told me you would go up to bat in
32-year-old defied the odds with his the order so stay relaxed. When Sam
exceptional stroke play, which left the got out, I didn’t see the scoreboard
Ahmedabad crowd stunned. and that was a good thing. I was like,
GT stood in pole position while I would react accordingly to the way
defending their herculean total of the ball is bowled my intent was to go
200. PBKS were tottering at 111/5 in out and score runs,” Shashank said.
the 13th over, with 89 runs needed in “The coach and management
46 deliveries. have always backed me, they told me
to not try anything different they told
After registering a golden duck me to play the way that I have in do-
mestic cricket. GT has a good bowl-
against DC, Shashank put his ing attack so I played just ball to ball

previous exploits past and went and reacted accordingly,” he added.
on a rampage from that point, ASHUTOSH SHARMA ON HIS
which left GT’s experienced FIERY KNOCK AGAINST GT
bowling line-up bamboozled. ollowing his fiery knock against
Gujarat Titans (GT) in the In-
He ended the night with 61* in Fdian Premier League (IPL)
a mere 29 deliveries. 2024, Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter
Ashutosh Sharma said that he had
“Shikkhi (Dhawan) paji has confidence while batting since the
backed me a lot and when I got out Punjab Kings’ Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma during the match against Gujarat Titans coaches and staff believed in him.
for a duck against DC he called me at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday (ANI) The 25-year-old batter scored 31
into his room and said don’t worry runs from 17 balls at a strike rate of
we will back you. He also gives me match, offering her support to the When we first met, she told me, I 182.35 and helped his side clinch a
technical points to improve my game. players. am sure you will win the game for us 3-wicket win over Gujarat. Ashutosh
He is not like you have to win or lose, Shashank recalled the first in- and I contributed to PBKS’s victory; slammed 3 fours and a six during his
he wants a player to take his game to teraction he had with Preity and the hopefully more will follow.” time on the crease.
the next level,” Shashank told ANI. confidence that she showed in him The right-handed batter was While speaking at the post-
One of the franchise owners, and said, “Preity ma’am always backs promoted in the batting order as he match press conference, Ashutosh
Preity Zinta, was present during the the team and she was really happy. came out to bat ahead of Jitesh Shar- Continued on next page... >>

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