SunRisers Hyderabad wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan shared an unexpected request from a team member during the drinks break in their IPL 2025 match against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. Kishan mentioned that their target was 288, which they couldn’t achieve in this game, but he sees it as strong motivation to bounce back in the next match.
Making his debut for the SunRisers, Kishan batted at number three and made the most of the solid start provided by Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. The 26-year-old smashed his maiden century, reaching the milestone in just 45 balls, as SRH posted a total of 286/6.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Kishan told ESPN Cricinfo: “Someone came in the middle with a water bottle and said we need to cross this total [their record of 287]. I was like, I did not know if there was a target set or something, but yeah, when you don’t achieve the goal, it’s something like you want to do it again.”
”We did not do it today, so it’s good to have that target goal for us coming back. Some days [when] we get a good start, batters are set, we will try and definitely get a record total.”
“During his debut, Aniket Verma wasn’t focused on remaining not out”- Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan praised captain Pat Cummins and coach Daniel Vettori for their straightforward approach and the freedom they give young players, enabling them to excel. He further explained:
“They keep things very simple, to be honest. Pat Cummins, for example, understands a player’s natural game and fully backs them. If someone prefers to attack from the start, he supports that approach without adding pressure if they get out early.”
“That’s a huge advantage for young players. Take Aniket Verma in his debut—he wasn’t worried about staying not out; he played every ball with confidence. That kind of trust from the support staff, especially the captain, makes a big difference.”
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s next match is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST. They will face the Mumbai Indians at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
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