IPL 2022: When you play, it’s obviously your dream to play for country – Rahul Tripathi

Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Rahul Tripathi has been knocking down the selection doors for the national team with his consistent performances.

Tripathi is known to hit the ground running and mostly takes the attack against the opposition bowlers from the word go.

The right-hander scored another fine knock in the ongoing IPL 2022 as he scored 76 runs off just 44 balls against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday. Tripathi added 78 runs with Priyam Garg, who was playing his first match of the season and scored a quickfire knock of 42 runs.

Subsequently, Tripathi added another crucial partnership of 76 runs with Nicholas Pooran. Thus, the right-hander was able to lay down the perfect foundation for a big score for SRH but they failed to add the finishing touches. The Orange Army could only manage 29 runs in the last four overs and lost four wickets to post 193 runs on the board after MI won the toss and elected to field first.

Tripathi was awarded the Player of the Match for his fine knock which comprised of nine fours and three sixes. The right-hander said he tries to play according to the match situation and tries to take the attack on the opposition bowlers if the ball is in his slot.

Tripathi said after the game, “I’ve enjoyed batting at three. It’s important that if the openers have given a good start, then continue that. Or whatever the situation demands I’m trying to learn from that. Bumrah’s a great bowler. Was just looking to react to whatever he’s bowling. It depends on how the wicket is playing, and how I can counterattack at that point. If it’s there and I can take it on, I will definitely go for the shot. If it’s not there then I’ll just look to take those singles-doubles. To win games is more important, happy I could do that today. Sometimes when a bowler is bowling well, how to score those runs. In T20 there cannot be a moment where you can slow down. Every ball is an event so I just think about what could be the best result. When you play it’s obviously your dream to represent your country.”

On the other hand, Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a match-changing 19th over as he accounted for Sanjay Yadav and didn’t even concede a solitary run. 19 runs were needed off the final two overs and Kumar bowled a superb spell of 1-26 in his quota of four overs. Kumar was able to nail the yorkers against Jasprit Bumrah, who got a taste of his own medicine

Kumar said after the game, “I was just looking to bowl yorkers. Luckily I got bigger boundaries on the leg side. I was just looking to nail those yorkers, even if I miss, I may not go for boundaries. Even after Nattu’s over, I knew if I give away 1 or 2 boundaries, we’ll be under pressure in the last over, I was just looking to execute. Pretty satisfied with the way I have bowled this season, wickets column is something you may get lucky or unlucky, I always look to bowl economical overs.”

He added, “That way your team-mate may get wickets in the next over. It’s a team game, you just can’t look for wickets and leak runs, bowling economically is my priority. If I get wickets it’s good, otherwise, I am doing the job for the team. Umran is young and raw, he’s got a lot to learn, and he’s got that X-factor. The credit goes to the SRH management the way they have backed him. It’s easier to drop any guy when he continuously goes for plenty of runs in 3-4 matches, but they backed him and he came back pretty strong. ‘Back your length ball, when you bowl more length balls, then your yorker or bouncer will be effective.’ That’s the one advice we all give to him.”

SRH will next face Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.