Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy | I play according to the situation, says Kushagra after playing ‘best innings’ against Punjab

Kumar Kushagra is just not new to challenges. In crunch conditions, the top-order batter has repeatedly bailed Jharkhand out. However by his personal admission, one in every of his greatest innings got here within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Tremendous League fixture towards Punjab on Friday the place he made the mammoth run chase look really easy with an unbeaten 86 runs off 42 balls.

Chasing 236, Kushagra dealt in fours and sixes as Jharkhand romped house with 11 balls to spare and pulled off the highest-ever chase within the historical past of the match. On a moderately ‘sticky’ floor on the DY Patil Academy floor in Ambi, batting wasn’t straightforward, however the teenager backed himself and reduce out the noise.

“Initially, the wicket was a bit sticky, however as a group, we hoped that issues can be higher within the second innings. However we didn’t anticipate Punjab to attain 234, so once we acquired all the way down to the chase, the plan was to make sure that the top-three batters cling in there, as a result of to win such video games, you want contribution from each senior and junior gamers,” Kushagra advised the The Hindu on Saturday.

Having received all its group league video games, the group was excessive on confidence, and after Ishan Kishan supplied the group with a gradual begin, Kushagra’s job was to make sure that he batted until the top. “Earlier, once I was younger within the group, I’d assume quite a bit about how you can method a sport, and which pictures to play, and that ultimately added numerous strain. However now, I simply play in line with the state of affairs, as an alternative of fascinated by Plan A or Plan B. When you can play in line with the state of affairs, it truly helps,” the 21-year-old, who has amassed 316 runs in SMAT up to now, added.