IPL 2021: Jhye Richardson reveals his plans to deal with pressure in the IPL, shares how a chat with Anil Kumble helped him calm his nerves

IPL 2021: Jhye Richardson reveals his plans to deal with pressure in the IPL, shares how a chat with Anil Kumble helped him calm his nerves

Jhye Richardson

Australia pacer Jhye Richardson is all set to make his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut in its 14th season. Prior to his first game in the league, the Aussie grabbed the limelight in the auction as he was ropped in Punjab Kings for a hefty amount of 14 crores. The 24-year-old has played two Tests, 13 ODIs and 14 T20Is for Australia thus far.

The shortest format of the game is baptism by fire for the bowlers. Richardson shares that he plans to deal with the enormous pressure of T20s with a smile. The Aussie explains that it is very important to let the previous ball go before bowling the next ball in the format. And he feels that a smile on the top of the mark works wonders for him.

“The key to my game is to just go out and have fun. It’s easier said than done, because you’re bowing to the best in the world but for me if I can just stand at the top of my mark, and smile, that is a big one for me,” Richardson told PTI. “I actually started doing that (smile) during the Big Bash at the top of my mark, just to put a smile on the top, just to remind myself every ball that T20 is fun.“

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Richardson finished the Big Bash League 2020-21 as the leading wicket taker of the league. He shares that his role for the Perth Scorchers was to bowl the difficult overs. And he is looking to capitalise on that experience in the IPL. Richardson will be shouldering the death bowling duties for Punjab alongside Mohammed Shami this season.

“Sometimes you can bowl a good ball and it goes for six. The key to deal with that is finding a way to get over that moment. The good thing for me is that in Big Bash, I was probably the person who was required to bowl all the difficult overs. With that comes experience,” Richardson said. 

“I am certainly becoming more confident about myself and backing my ability to bowl in the death.“

“I know all that coach wants from me is to perform my best and back myself,” Jhye Richardson

Jhye Richardson
Jhye Richardson

Players are often seen succumbing to the pressure of the price tag in the IPL and Richardson is no exception. The Aussie shares that he too felt the heat of the price tag but a chat with coach Anil Kumble helped him calm his nerves. The fact that the franchise wants him to back his skills without worrying about the price tag helped Richardson deal with the pressure.

“I started putting pressure on myself (thinking about the price tag). But, I had a good conversation with Anil yesterday, and he said, you know, ‘we didn’t pick you up for the price tag we just picked you up for your services and what you do on the cricket field’. For me that was really important to hear, to know that the coach has picked me up for a reason and knows what I’m capable of,” Richardson said.

“So for me, now it’s not to worry about the price tag. I know all that coach wants from me is to perform my best and back myself with whatever skill that may be, whether it’s opening the bowling or or trying to hit some runs in the lower order.“

With the number of COVID-19 cases rising in India, one cant help but worry about it. Especially with players and ground staff testing positive, Richardson admits that “it’s hard not to think about all of those things”. Then again he adds that the key to adapting to life in the bubble is to always keep one’s mind busy and distracted.

“It’s hard not to think about all of those things, especially coming from a place where bubbles have sort of calmed down a little bit, so to come into another bubble is unfortunately what we’re going to have to get used to moving forward,” Richardson said.

“But it’s certainly difficult to get your head around. It’s just about distracting yourself and trying to keep yourself busy, and making sure that you’re in the present and not thinking too far forward. If you start to think too far ahead, the bubbles can just drag on for what seems like forever,” he added.

Punjab Kings will kick off their season against the Rajasthan Royals on Monday. The Kings will be looking to put the disappointing last season behind them and do their best to lift their maiden IPL trophy.

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