IPL 2020 : “My father always used to tell me to remain not out in every game,” emotional Mandeep Singh recalls after match-winning knock
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Mandeep Singh with his father
Riding on a five-match winning streak, KXIP has completely turned around their season after a disastrous start to IPL 2020. They have now climbed up to the fourth place with 8 wicket win over KKR the other night. Yet again it was their top order which fired to set up this easy victory but it was a different face this time around. It was Mandeep Singh’s unbeaten 66 that paved way for the victory.
Mandeep came into the side replacing an injured Mayank Agarwal but nothing changed for KXIP as the new opening pair worked like a well-oiled machine. But what sets this innings from Mandeep aside is that it comes in a very difficult time for the Punjab batsman. Mandeep lost his father on Saturday but decided to continue the tournament to honours his father’s wish. And what better way to honour his wish than a match-winning knock.
This was very special
The KXIP opener deemed the innings very special for him in an emotional post-match speech. Mandeep shares that his father always stressed being unbeaten no matter how great a knock. And having finished the game for his side he is very happy. He adds that skipper KL Rahul let him play his natural game which definitely paid off for the side.
“This was very special. My father always used to tell me to remain not out in every game, definitely special. He always used to tell me, whether you score 100 or 200, you should be not out. I had a talk with Rahul before the start of the game. Last game I was trying to score quicker and I’m always comfortable doing that. I told Rahul if I play my normal game, I will win the game and I had the belief. He (Rahul) told me to back my game and play the way I want to play, pretty happy with the win. Chris (Gayle) was just telling me to keep batting and play till the end and I just told him that he should never retire. He is too good. We are very excited,” Mandeep said after the game.
Chris Gayle scored a quickfire half-century to partner up with Mandeep and get his side home. It was Mohammed Shami’s 3 wickets and Ravi Bishnoi’s 2 for 20 which restricted KKR to 149 after a short flourish in the middle overs.
The win over KKR the other night places them right on the top in the playoffs race. And with two more games to go, Rahul and co are confident of finishing in top four this season.
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