Sunrisers Hyderabad wicketkeeper batsman Ishan Kishan They played a composed and aggressive hand in a thrilling five-wicket win rajasthan royalshe reflects on leadership, hitting freedom and chasing the mammoth target of 229. Kishan, speaking after being named man of the match for his 74-ball 31, made it clear that the captain has not changed his approach. “No, I think as a wicketkeeper you have to do the same job as well. So I just kept it simple because I felt it was a really good batting wicket and we just tried to restrict them to under 230 and we were able to do that,” he said. On handing leadership responsibilities back to Pat CumminsKishan has full respect for the Australian captain. “It’s been great fun taking the team through seven games and the addition of Pat has given us that extra bowling strength. So I was really happy when he joined the team because he’s a great captain anyway. So I just think about my batting and wicketkeeping, not leadership,” he added. Reflecting on SRH’s offensive batting approach against the Rajasthan attacks, Kishan said confidence and clarity were key. “You just have to keep looking at the ball and shooting. You can’t get into that fear-of-failure zone. You just have to keep it simple and play your game.” He also spoke about the challenges of facing a rising total early in the innings, stressing the importance of a strong power play. “When you are chasing a total like 228, you need good power play. Having Head and Abhishek as openers, even if they bat for four overs, the job becomes easier. I am just communicating with Abhishek. He knows exactly what is going on in the game and the run rate.” Kishan forges key partnership with 132 matches Abhishek SharmaHe smashed 57 off 29 balls after SRH was set at a daunting 229. Heinrich Klassen (29) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (36) then completed the chase in 9 balls, recording the fourth-highest chase success rate in IPL history. Earlier in the day, Rajasthan Royals posted 228 for 6 with the help of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s stunning 103 runs. Despite the onslaught, SRH maintained their composure in the chase, with Kishan and Abhishek laying the foundation for a commanding victory. Kishan also reflected on his mentality at the crease. “Calmness is about skill. You have to watch the ball and not predetermine it. The field is big so there are gaps. Just hit the ball and enjoy it.” When asked if this was the best phase of his batting career, he was quick to play it down. “No, I think my best is yet to come.”
