IPL 2023, RR v PBKS: Tyring my best to boost strike cost, says Shikhar Dhawan after match-winning 86

IPL 2023, RR v PBKS: Senior batter Shikhar Dhawan acknowledged he has made a acutely conscious dedication to boost his strike cost. The PBKS captain carried out unorthodox images, along with change hits, in his match-winning 86 not out in Guwahati.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Apr 6, 2023 01:02 IST

Shikhar Dhawan hit 86 not out in merely 56 balls for PBKS v RR (AP Photo)

By India Today Sports Desk: Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan acknowledged oN Wednesday that he has made a acutely conscious effort to boost his strike cost, notably throughout the middle-overs. The senior campaigner carried out a match-winning knock knock of 86 not out in merely 56 deliveries, hitting 9 boundaries and three sixes in PBKS’s 5-run win over Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati’s debut in IPL 2023 on Wednesday, April 5.

Shikhar Dhawan was involved in a 90-run stand with youthful fellow opener Prabhsimran Singh, who smashed 60 off merely 36 balls. Shikhar Dhawan took his time sooner than he modified gears, attacking the Rajasthan Royals spinners throughout the middle-overs.

Dhawan was batting on 41 from 33 balls on the end of the thirteenth over nonetheless the floodgates opened when he centered leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and hit him for 3 boundaries throughout the subsequent over. Dhawan accomplished with a strike cost of 153.57 and it propelled Punjab Kings to submit 197 on the board after Rajasthan Royals gained the toss and opted to topic.

Dhawan was proactive alongside along with his images as he carried out unorthodox images, hitting the paddle sweep and the within monitor behind the wicketkeeper’s head in the direction of pacers to depart the likes of AB de Villiers and Anil Kumble, who had been on-air for the match in Guwahati, shocked.

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Dhawans’ match-winning 86 not out acquired right here on the once more of a 29-ball 40 he hit of their season-opening win in the direction of Kolkata Knight Riders in Mohali.

“These two matches, we’ve gotten a great start playing well and I’m doing my best to increase my strike rate. The wicket brings momentum back quickly. This year we have a deep batting lineup so we keep momentum going hitting boundaries and put pressure on the other team. You have to respect that the other team has come to play and will bowl some good overs as well but we have to keep the intent and aggression going,” Shikhar Dhawan acknowledged after their win in Guwahati.

RR v PBKS, IPL 2023 Highlights

SWITCH HITTING-SHIKHAR

Joking that his change hits had been the turning degree of the match, Dhawan acknowledged: “My switch hits? Scoring 197 and then my bowlers coming and getting early wickets and keeping the pressure on and then Nathan came on and got wickets. We never let the game get out of our hands. There were some moments that were hard but I think it was a great team effort.”

Dhawan lauded his bowling unit for not wilting beneath pressure concurrently they’d been defending a whole in Guwahati the place there was a complete lot of dew throughout the second innings.

Nathan Ellis picked up 4 wickets and gave away merely 30 runs whereas Sam Curran recovered from a tapping in his penultimate over to defend 16 runs throughout the final over.

Punjab Kings had been making an attempt set to win when Rajasthan slipped to 124 for six, shedding enormous weapons Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler early. However, impression participant Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer stitched a 50-plus stand to take Rajasthan Royals close to the tip line.

Dhawan acknowledged he felt the nerves throughout the final few overs nonetheless stayed throughout the second to return out victorious.

“There were some nervous moments but I was keeping my calm and the same with the bowlers. There was a lot of dew. The bowlers did a great job. I was happy with the score we put up. They bowled well and bowled very good yorkers,” he added.

Having gained 2 in 2 firstly of the season for the first time since 2017, Punjab Kings will look to make it a hat-trick as soon as they journey to Hyderabad to face SRH on Sunday, April 9.

Published On:

Apr 6, 2023