It wasn’t simply his batting contribution that was key. Nitish, who bowls energetic medium tempo within the mid-130s, dismissed Jitesh Sharma within the sixteenth over with Punjab Kings in search of a late cost.

“He was superior,” Cummins mentioned. “Straight to the highest of the order [in this game], was incredible within the subject, bowled three overs too. To get us to 180 off his bat, it was superb.”

Nitish himself appears to be a person of few phrases, however appeared happy at having the ability to contribute. It is doubtless he solely acquired the chance as a result of Sunrisers determined Abhishek Sharma’s type was too good for him to be batting at No. 3. With Mayank Agarwal sick, Abhishek made a splash in opposition to CSK with a 12-ball 37 to set the tempo of their chase of 166, which they comfortably achieved with 11 balls to spare.

That efficiency might have tempted the crew administration to proceed with Abhishek on the high with Travis Head, paving the best way for Nitish to maintain his place regardless that Agarwal was dominated match for this match. Nitish repaid the religion with a back-to-the-wall knock through which he hit 4 fours and 5 sixes.

“For me, it’s a large contribution for my crew and myself,” Nitish mentioned on the presentation. “I’ve been speaking to myself that I’ve to consider in myself and that I’ve to be there [for the team]. The seamers have been bowling effectively, so I didn’t wish to take them on. When the spinners got here on, I needed to assault them and that’s what I did.”

Cummins highlighted Sunrisers’ strategy as he summed up their tight win. “It was a terrific sport of cricket,” he mentioned. “They bowled very well in the beginning, we did effectively to get to 182 after which defended it. The great thing about the affect participant is that you just really feel you could have actually deep batting. We attempt to be optimistic, to take the sport on.

“In case you get 150-160, you’re going to lose 9 out of ten video games anyway. We knew the brand new ball was going to be a key time. We have been fairly completely happy [with our score]. We noticed what occurred with the brand new ball for them, so thought if me and Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] might begin off with a wicket, it will be good. We’ve got loads of left-armers, right-armers, so simply tried to provide the bowlers one of the best likelihood of success.”

As the ultimate ball was nailed for a six, Kings could not have helped however look again on the six they conceded off the final ball when Harshal Patel missed a possibility on the long-on boundary.

“Shashank and Ashutosh performed nice knocks. I really feel that we stored them to a very good complete. Sadly, we couldn’t money in on the primary six overs and that’s the place we misplaced the sport,” Dhawan mentioned. “That pinched us arduous. The wicket was not providing that a lot bounce so each particular person has to provide you with higher plans.

“We might have stopped 10-15 runs extra and that made a distinction as effectively. As a batting unit, we didn’t carry out. It’s important for the highest order to carry out. Shashank and Ashutosh’s efficiency provides us confidence and hope for the subsequent sport. We’ve got to do higher in sure areas and enhance.”