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

Kumar Kushagra is not caller to challenges. In crunch situations, the top-order batter has clip and again bailed Jharkhand out. But by his ain admission, 1 of his champion innings came successful the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League fixture against Punjab connected Friday wherever helium made the mammoth tally pursuit look truthful casual with an unbeaten 86 runs disconnected 42 balls.

Chasing 236, Kushagra dealt successful fours and sixes arsenic Jharkhand romped location with 11 balls to spare and pulled disconnected the highest-ever pursuit successful the past of the tournament. On a alternatively ‘sticky’ aboveground astatine the DY Patil Academy crushed successful Ambi, batting wasn’t easy, but the youngster backed himself and chopped retired the noise.

“Initially, the wicket was a spot sticky, but arsenic a team, we hoped that things would beryllium amended successful the 2nd innings. But we did not expect Punjab to people 234, truthful erstwhile we got down to the chase, the program was to guarantee that the top-three batters bent successful there, due to the fact that to triumph specified games, you request publication from some elder and inferior players,” Kushagra told the The Hindu connected Saturday.

Having won each its radical league games, the squad was precocious connected confidence, and aft Ishan Kishan provided the squad with a dependable start, Kushagra’s occupation was to guarantee that helium batted till the end. “Earlier, erstwhile I was young successful the team, I would deliberation a batch astir however to attack a game, and which shots to play, and that yet added a batch of pressure. But now, I conscionable play according to the situation, alternatively of reasoning astir Plan A oregon Plan B. If you tin play according to the situation, it really helps,” the 21-year-old, who has amassed 316 runs successful SMAT truthful far, added.