With his team on 56 for three after being inserted to bat, Shakib Al Hasan joined the in-form Robin Uthappa to help set Royal Challengers Bangalore a 196-run target, and put the Kolkata Knight Riders in a commanding position. The all-rounder rebuilt the innings with the opener during a 121-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Shakib ended up scoring a 38-ball 60 at the Eden Gardens.
Cheered on by the enthusiastic Kolkata crowd, he even smashed Yuzvendra Chahal for three sixes and a boundary in an over to collect 24 runs off it during his splendid knock.
Speaking to IPLT20.com after the crucial win, which lifted KKR to the third spot in the points table, Shakib talked about his innings and the significance of building a partnership after losing three wickets early on.
Excerpts from his interview:
On playing a couple of good knocks going into the business end of the tournament
Obviously, it feels good to contribute to the team; that’s my job and I am trying to do my best. So far, it is coming off nicely and hopefully I will continue playing like this.
On the partnership with Robin Uthappa
It was important to have the partnership in the middle after losing a couple of wickets. We didn’t get the start that we used to get, so we needed partnership in the middle overs and we did that.
On the target that they had in mind, given RCB’s explosive line-up
We wanted to start well, but we didn’t. But we knew that if someone gets in, we have the ability to score big runs and that’s what we did. We weren’t looking at any particular number; we just tried our best to get as many runs as we could.
On the wicket
It is a very good batting wicket. It is similar to Bangladeshi wickets.
Whether he is enjoying batting at the Eden Gardens
Yes, so far.
On whether he had planned on targeting Chahal
It just comes along. You never plan those things. There wasn’t any plan that we should look to take him on, but I got good enough balls and I hit them.
On the way the team has pulled together under pressure
We have been playing very good cricket since we have come back to India and we have continued with those performances.
At the moment, we are very happy and hopefully we will keep on our smiles till the finals.
On playing under Gautam Gambhir
He is someone who is very aggressive and positive, and it is good to play under him.
BDST: 2111 HRS, MAY 24, 2014
