'Knew We Had to go Ballistic in the Powerplay': Jonny Bairstow on How PBKS Were Able to Script a Record-breaking Victory vs KKR

Returning to the side after a couple of games on the bench, Jonny Bairstow has managed to show why he is supposed to be one of the most feared opening batters in the shortest format as he led the charge for Punjab Kings to script a historic and record-breaking victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders with the Yorkshireman scoring an unbeaten 108 to push his side over the line.

His performance with the bat meant that he won the Player of the Match award. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Bairstow reckons that the start PBKS received helped them set the tone. While Bairstow played more of a supporting role in the powerplay, the onus was taken by Prabhsimran Singh who scored a blistering fifty within the first six overs.

The English international shared, “We got off to a good start and that was key. They got a flier themselves thanks to Sunil so we knew we had to go ballistic in the powerplay. (Does change in format matter?) Not really, you’ve got to take risks to go on. When you’ve to chase 200-plus you’ve to take risks in the powerplay.”

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The opening batter had a cheeky response to his approach during the chase. He said,” Try and whack it as hard as possible (laughs). It was a case of if it’s in your area you go after it. We wanted to lose as few wickets as possible.”

The 2019 World Cup winner, reserved special praise to his fellow teammate Shashank Singh and credited him for his clean hitting which even amazed the Bairstow himself.

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“Shashank has done it all season, he’s a lovely guy and a special player. To have someone like him come in and do that is unbelievable. His knowledge, he’s not young either, he’s nice and calm, full credit to him for the way he came out and hit it cleanly,” he concluded.

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With that win, Punjab have now taken six points in their nine games. But winning all their upcoming games and some favourable outcomes in the other games could mean a playoff spot is up for grabs.