“We’ve just decided in the dressing room that whatever happens, we are going to play a brand of cricket which is to impress each other, not others outside,” Shreyas said. “So that gives us a certain sort of clarity as well, when we approach the game. It is basically challenging each other inside the dressing room, not outside.”
The PBKS innings didn’t depend on one batter batting through with the others playing around him. The top four batters each made between 36 and 50, with three of them striking at over 160. Shreyas top-scored with 50. Once the platform was set, Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh took them home.
“I’m glad that everyone’s getting to bat in the first two games itself,” Shreyas said. “That gives immense confidence for the team as well. Whenever we’re stuck in a pressure situation, people are aware of how to handle them.”
In the field, PBKS let CSK get off to a good start. Ayush Mhatre took charge with support from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube to score heavily either side of the powerplay. It was a time when PBKS had to stay calm even as they were in danger of incurring an over-rate penalty later on.
“I think it was a belter to bat on,” Shreyas said. “But the way we started was 25 off 3 overs. Suddenly they started picking up from there. But it’s important that we remain calm. And also the over rate is something we should look up to right now, because five fielders coming in in the last two overs, you sort of know that there’s one line to bowl. That’s the only part we need to focus on.”






