When Shahrukh Khan walked out to bat against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 15 (Saturday), Punjab Kings still required 38 runs off 25 balls with four wickets in hand. The muscular right-handed batter announced his arrival at the crease in thunderous fashion by smoking Mark Wood's delivery for a six over the long-on fence. The 27-year-old meant business. From thereon, the pressure on the right-handed batter only increased, and when Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Sikandar Raza on the penultimate ball of the 18th over, it was up to Shahrukh to take his team to the promised land.
"Really feeling good, after the first innings, it was important to play a par game (in the chase). Raza played superbly and set it up for me. My mindset was just to stay with the ball, the practice is working out to me," said Shahrukh after the game.
"I'm powerful, cheeky shots don't work for me, so I try to hit straight and it's good to use my muscles. I just told Brar to go for the big hit since it was the last (5th) ball of the over, unfortunately he got out, but I was confident I could finish in the last over," he added.
The PBKS batter turned his confidence into a positive result for this franchise. Needing eight runs off the last over, Shahrukh finished the job in just three balls and helped his team secure two important points. In the end, Punjab's match-winner remained unbeaten on 23 runs off 10 balls. In his short stay at the crease, the powerful batter smoked one four and two sixes, giving a terrific account of his ability to finish the match under pressure.
The target of 160 runs was not daunting by any stretch of the imagination but with captain Shikhar Dhawan out, the task at hand was always going to be difficult. Sikandar Raza played a brilliant knock of 57 runs off 41 balls and put Punjab in a solid position to win the game. The remaining part was taken care by Shahrukh Khan.
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