Mohammad Shami put in a stellar performance to lead Lucknow Supergiants to a five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad and later explained the tactical change behind his success.
The veteran pacer set the tone for LSG to break SRH’s top order with a superb performance of 2 for 9 in his four games, including a stunning 18-pointer. The home team ended up with 9 draws at 156, but the total score didn’t seem to be enough.
Speaking after being named Man of the Match, Shami revealed that his decision to rely more on slower deliveries was based on observing trends from last season.
“I was here last year and bowled a lot of slow balls. In my opinion, both the bowlers and the opponents bowled a lot of slow balls, so I thought why don’t I try it too,” Shami said in his post-match speech.
His impact was immediate. Shami removed Abhishek Sharma in the opening innings and soon sent back Travis Head to put SRH in trouble early. Ishan Kishan also failed miserably as his innings spiraled during the Powerplay.
At 22 for 3 and 26 for 4, SRH looked on the verge of collapse, but Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen put together a crucial 116 runs to rejuvenate the innings.
Shami emphasized the importance of this win after the setback in the previous game and spoke about the need to maintain pace and fitness through consistent cricket.
“We are happy because we lost the last game at home, so it is very important for us to win this game to build momentum. Once you start, the momentum to win continues. (On his preparations for this IPL) If you love cricket, if you want to play at any level, it is important to stay in touch with the game,” Shami said.
He also stressed the importance of preparation and adaptability, highlighting how staying match-ready helped him execute his plans effectively.
“It’s very important to stay fit if you want to perform at a good level. First, you have to stay fit and then you can show your skills. For domestic cricket, my plan was to stay in touch with the game so that I could fit in. That’s why I played all the games. (On the changes in his bowling today) Without technique and experience, nothing works. To adapt to conditions quickly, it’s very important to read them,” he added.
130052742
Although SRH recovered late, LSG still controlled the situation in the pursuit, and the captain led with an unbeaten 68 to easily seal the victory.
