Shreyas Iyer | PBKS captain: (How did the partnership make you feel when you were watching it?) It was exceptional, first of all. Some of the shots I saw were jaw-dropping, honestly speaking. Hitting fast bowlers off the back foot straight, and spinners as well – it takes a lot of courage and composure at the same time, because things can slip at any moment. But the way they built that partnership, especially in the middle overs, it was sensational. (How much do you as a team discuss how you need to become a really good six-hitting side from top to middle?) I was just talking with Cooper and Priyansh at the moment, and we said let us compete in this IPL for who hits the most sixes. We are up for it, and the prize is going to be my bat. So it doesn’t make much sense, but at the end of the day, as long as they keep performing and I keep performing, I’m happy. I personally feel that when you just let them be, let them go out there and express themselves, they deliver at that time. So that has been our mantra so far. I don’t tell them how to go about their specific innings against different teams. I think they’ve got their patterns set, and every individual in the team has their own routines and processes which they follow – and they are delivering. So I don’t have to say much. We just talk, Ricky motivates just before the game, I also chip in with a few words, and definitely the boys come and deliver. (How satisfied were you with the way the middle overs went?) I think the majority of the bowlers in our team are international-level players, and you’ve seen they’ve been doing fantastic for their respective teams internationally. They’ve got immense experience as well. So again, I don’t have to tell them much. We discuss, we have a set of plans against certain batters, and it’s all about execution. I personally feel that today, the way they bowled – and the way they’ve been bowling throughout the season – has been sensational. They just have to keep executing and not get complacent at any point of time. (Making it a bit of a fortress here in New Chandigarh?) Yes, absolutely. I feel that whenever we come and see the wicket now before the game, it gives us immense pleasure that we are a part of this team. Also last year we had to brainstorm about how we were going to come this season and see to it how we build the wicket and support our batsmen as well as bowlers at the same time. So far, so good.
