Chepauk Super Gillies debutant bowler Ashwath Mukunthan addressed the media after his five-wicket haul helped his team beat the VB Thiruvallur Veerans by 41 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday, in the India Cements Tamil Nadu Premier League. Excerpts from the transcript:
What did R Sathish or Hemang Badani tell you before your game today?
As a youngster, I felt comfortable in the team, so there was no pressure. Obviously, I was a little nervous because this is my first game in the India Cements Tamil Nadu Premier League. Right from the team meeting to the bus journey, my seniors and the coach were with me. So we had a plan and I knew I was going to bowl in the powerplay. I was just doing what Sathish Anna told, not anything extra.
What did the captain advise you during powerplay?
In the powerplay initially, he was telling me to hit the right areas and when it came to the last over, he just asked me to bowl the slower ones. Those things worked.
Did you expect to get five wickets on debut?
Frankly, no. I just wanted to bowl well, but five wickets on debut is a special feeling. I never expected that it feels nice. Our team’s morale is up and going into the semis, we are doing well and we would like to continue the same thing.
First ball, first wicket..
I didn’t realise there was an edge, I would only know after seeing the video now. I went on my follow through and saw Gopi Anna (Gopinath) and everyone were appealing, maybe they heard it. It was a special feeling taking wicket off the very first delivery. It set us the momentum and we were able to get three-four wickets in the Powerplay. The game got sealed in the powerplay, so it felt nice.
Anything to say about your celebrations?
(smiles) I am usually like this off the field and I try to enjoy my cricket. The first wicket celebration that me and Thalai (Thalaivan Sargunam) did, we do that during our club games. We play for the same club, MRF and so it started there. It just continued over here as well.
VB Thiruvallur Veerans skipper Baba Aparajith addressed the media after his team’s 41-run defeat to Chepauk Super Gillies in their India Cements TN Premier League game at Chennai on Monday. Here is the excerpt:
Was your wicket the turning point of the game?Yes, definitely. Also, we lost two wickets in the powerplay and that cost us the match.
On the run targetThe target (155) was good enough to chase down, but our batting let us down.
Areas where they went wrongWe wanted to get more runs, but sadly we couldn’t achieve that objective. Also, we had hopes of Abhishek (Tanwar), but his early dismissal proved to be costly.
On the batting shuffleNo, it does not affect me. I just want to watch and play the ball on its merit. The batting shuffle is just a tactical move, nothing else.
On looking aheadWe tried our best but then the wickets in the 10th to 12th overs did the damage. We do hope that other results go our way from now on.
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